Pastrana: another chance for rebels

In a televised speech, Mr Pastrana said he wanted to meet the FARC leader Manuel Marulanda.

"I have decided to extend the demilitarised zone until the end of this week with the only purpose of meeting Marulanda," the president said.

Pressure

It is the seventh time the Colombian leader has renewed the safe haven since he first declared it off limits to the army in November 1998, in an attempt to bring an end to four decades of conflict with the rebels.

Mr Pastrana had been under pressure not to grant another extension.

The announcement followed the ending of an armed hijacking incident in Colombia, which began inside the FARC safe haven.

A man suspected of being a FARC deserter took over a passenger airliner in the southern town of San Vicente del Caguan and forced the crew to fly to Bogota, the Colombian capital.

But in Bogota, the hijacker was overpowered by the plane's captain and all 30 passengers and crew are reported to be safe and well.