The Colombian government and Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC) rebels have agreed to begin talks aimed at securing a ceasefire.
The announcement came after government negotiators and FARC commanders met in an attempt to avert a threatened army offensive.
"The negotiating table will immediately begin the study of a ceasefire and a cessation of hostilities," government peace commissioner Mr Camilo Gomez said in a 12-point statement that was also read by FARC senior commander Mr Raul Reyes.
FARC also agreed to consider ending kidnappings for ransom, a major source of their income.
President Mr Andres Pastrana, frustrated at the slow pace of talks that began three years ago, had said he would order troops to seize a vast demilitarised occupied by the FARC.
After the agreement was made public, Mr Pastrana announced he was extending the FARC safe haven until April 10th to allow peace talks to continue.
Rebel commanders hugged and shook hands with government officials and diplomats and toasted to peace.
"Please, stop assassinating, killing, displacing, kidnapping and committing massacres against the Colombian people," UN special envoy Mr James LeMoyne urged outlawed armed groups fighting in a war that has claimed the lives of 40,000 people, mostly civilians, in the last decade.