Colombia Announces Cease-Fire With a Group That Split off From the FARC Rebels

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) Colombias government and one of the nation's last remaining rebel groups announced Tuesday that they will start peace talks next month, and enter a 10-month cease-fire that is expected to decrease violence against civilians.

The agreement between the Colombian government and the rebel group known as FARC-EMC comes as President Gustavo Petro tries to bolster his plans to pacify rural areas of Colombia by negotiating simultaneously with all of the nations remaining rebel factions, under his total peace strategy.

In August the Petro administration brokered a six-month cease-fire with the National Liberation Army, the nations largest remaining rebel group, and also set up a committee that will decide how community groups will participate in peace talks with that group.