Colombia peace talks

The Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) are next week due to start formal talks to try to end to the country's civil conflict. 

It is the first attempt to reach a deal in a decade, and huge obstacles remain. 

But for some, it is the best chance for peace in 48 years.

How did the current process start?

President Juan Manuel Santos has said initial informal discussions with the Farc started shortly after he took office in August 2.010. 

Those contacts led to the start of direct exploratory talks with the rebels' representatives in the Cuban capital, Havana, in february 2.012.

These discussions concluded on 26 August with the signing of an agreement that set out the principles and procedures for the forthcoming negotiations.

Does the agreement include a ceasefire?

No. Mr Santos has said he made it clear from the beginning that military operations against the Farc will continue until a final deal has been reached. 

This is one of the main differences with previous peace processes, which many believe were used by the rebels mainly to regroup and strengthen.

At the same time, the decision to continue with the military operations has also tested the Farc's resolve. 

The rebels' decision to continue contacts even after government forces killed Alfonso Cano, the rebel leader who started the negotiations, in November 2.011, has been presented as proof of their willingness to secure a deal.

How will the dialogue continue?

The talks will begin in Oslo and then move to Havana. 

The governments of Norway and Cuba will act as guarantors, and the governments of Venezuela and Chile will also support the talks.

There is no deadline for the negotiations to be concluded, but President Santos has said he expects the whole process to last months, not years. 

The Farc, however, has said it is ready to sit at the negotiating table for as long as it takes.

What will be discussed?

The agreement covers five issues for discussion: rural development; guarantees for the exercise of political opposition and citizen participation; the end of armed conflict; drug trafficking; and the rights of the victims of the conflict.

This agenda has been hailed as realistic, especially when compared with previous peace processes when the Farc also wanted to discuss radical changes to Colombia's political and economic model. 

This time around, however, the Farc arrive at the negotiating table in a much weaker position. 

And the rebels know it.

So how strong is the Farc?

The Farc is Colombia's largest guerrilla group and one of the world's richest rebel movements, allegedly due in large part to drug-trafficking and illegal gold mining. But according to the Colombian military there are now some 8,000 fighters, down from 16,000 in 2001.

The rebels, now mostly operate in remote rural areas or through hit-and-run attacks. 

Several Farc commanders have been killed or captured in the last few years. 

But the rebels are by no means defeated and have demonstrated great capacity to adapt.

"The government realises military means alone cannot end the conflict and (the) Farc appears to recognise that the armed struggle permits survival but little else," the International Crisis Group said in September.

What about Colombian public opinion?

Opinion polls suggest a large majority back dialogue, while just over half are optimist about the outcome. 

But a significant number also share the views of key opponents of the negotiations. 

These include former president Alvaro Uribe, who opposes the idea of an amnesty or allowing the rebels to enter politics.

What happened at previous talks?

The last attempt dates from 1.999-2.002. 

A condition for talks was the creation of a demilitarised zone in southern Colombia. 

The Farc was accused of using this safe haven to import arms, export drugs and build up its military machine.

The talks came to an abrupt end after the rebels hijacked a plane in february 2.002 and kidnapped Senator Jorge Gechem. 

Three days later, the rebels also seized presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt.

The peace process was widely seen as a complete failure and long made the idea of talking to the rebels anathema to many Colombians.

So, no success stories?

President Virgilio Barco negotiated the demobilisation of the M-19 guerrilla group in March 1.990. 

And despite the assassination of its presidential candidate, Carlos Pizarro, in april that year, the M-19 party came third in the presidential elections.

Many former M-19 rebels also helped to draft the current constitution. 

A former M-19 member, Gustavo Petro, is mayor of the Colombian capital, Bogotá, considered the country's second most important elected post.