Colombia's Farc rebels, the country's largest left-wing guerrilla group, have urged voters to go to the polls, in an apparent change of tactics faced with President Alvaro Uribe's likely reelection.
The call to vote in the May 28th presidential election came after attacks by the Farc rebels helped shore up support for Uribe, who is popular for his tough stance to end Colombia's four-decade insurgency, analysts said.
During previous elections, including recent congressional votes, the 17,000-member Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia has called for abstention and launched attacks in an attempt to intimidate voters.
"Now that Uribe ... wants to get reelected, there is a need to vote for a candidate who will put the country foremost -- for the candidate who has the most coherent strategy for peace," the Farc said in a statement posted on its Website.
Mr Uribe, a staunch Washington ally who has received billions of dollars in US aid, is strongly tipped to win the election.
Voters seem ready to reward him for reducing crime with tough security policies that have targeted the rebels and the cocaine trade they use to finance their operations.
"More attacks by the Farc in one way strengthen support for the hardline of Uribe ... and also increased backing for his security policies," said German Espejo, an analyst at a Bogota security think tank.
The Farc say they are fighting for a socialist state to address huge gap between a rich elite and the poor majority.
Mr Uribe has vowed to start his second term by offering peace talks with Farc and is urging rebels to lay down their arms and join negotiations, an offer they are unlikely to accept.