Thu Jul 17,12:41 PM ET
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe greets children during at a local
government meeting in Arauca, July 17, 2003. Colombia's government
announced unprecedented peace talks with far-right paramilitary
gunmen, as Uribe went to one of the bloodiest corners of his nation
and called for an end to four decades of fighting.
REUTERS/Eliana Aponte
Sun Jul 20, 4:22 PM ET
Colombia's special forces march during Colombia's Independence
Day celebrations in Bogota, Sunday, July 20, 2003. Colombia
declared independence from Spain 193 years ago.
(AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Sun Jul 20, 4:23 PM ET
Colombian soldiers wounded in the war against leftist rebels march
during Colombia's Independence Day celebration in Bogota,
Colombia, Sunday, July 20, 2003. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
The state and its governments are
responsible for the violence