The Colombian government and Farc (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) are to hold exploratory talks towards peace, the Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said on Monday.

Addressing state TV, Santos said,

"Since the first day of my government I have completed my constitutional obligation to find peace. With that aim, we have had exploratory conversations with the FARC to seek an end to the conflict,"

The talks are understood to take place later this year in Norway or Cuba.

Santos added that the Colombian military would continue to act "throughout every centimetre" of the country whilst the talks took place.

According to Reuters, Santos has agreed that Farc rebels would not be extradited to any other country to face convictions.

Over recent years, Farc has seen the deaths of a number of its highest in command, as the Colombian military has received assistance from the US, including US trained special forces, technology, intelligence and large amounts of funding supposedly for fighting narcotics.

The second largest rebel group, the ELN (Ejército de Liberación Nacional), have refused to lay down arms as a prerequisite to coming to the table.

Commenting on the ELN's interview with Reuters, Santos said,

"Today the ELN has expressed, via an international news agency, its interest in participating in conversations to put an end to the violence,"

"I tell that group that, within the same framework, they too can be part of the effort to end the conflict."