Colombian rebels, government push back start of peace talks until next week

BOGOTA, Colombia – Colombia's government and the country's main rebel group have pushed back the start of formal peace talks until next week.

The talks had been due to start in Havana on Thursday. But a four-day delay was announced in a joint statement by the Colombian government and the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC.

The statement was published on Tuesday on the website of Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos' office. It didn't say why the two sides had decided to delay the start of the talks until Monday.