The Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez, has called on the Colombian rebel group, FARC, to end its decades long rebellion and free the hundreds of hostages it's holding. This report from the BBC's Emilio San Pedro:

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Now, Mr Chavez says he believes that the era of guerrilla movements in Latin America is history and he's called on the FARC's new leader, Alfonso Cano, unilaterally to release the hundreds of hostages the group is holding. He said this could lead to a peace process between the rebels and the Colombian government.

Mr Chavez's critics will no doubt wonder whether this drastic change in policy is related to the accusations against him by the Colombian President, Alvaro Uribe, who has accused President Chavez of giving the rebels three-hundred-million dollars, something which the Venezuelan leader denies.

Emilio San Pedro, BBC

Listen to the words

headline grabbing announcements
sensational speeches

to lay down their arms
to stop fighting

an all-out about-face in policy
a complete reversal of political direction

branding
naming, describing

legitimate
allowed by law

the era of guerrilla movements
the period of time when unofficial groups used military force within a country to change the policies of that country

is history
is finished

unilaterally
without being offered anything in return

drastic change in policy
surprising change in what the government says it believes in and wants to do

denies
says it isn't true

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