BBC News with Fiona MacDonald

The Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has laid out details of the planned peace talks with his country's largest rebel group, the Farc–the first serious attempt for ten years to find a solution to the decades-long conflict. Here's Vanessa Buschschluter.

Flanked by the commanders of the Colombian armed forces and the police, President Santos asked Colombians to give the peace process a chance. He said that as president, this was an opportunity he could not let pass, especially in light of the millions of people who had suffered as a result of the five-decade-long armed conflict. Mr Santos said the peace process would not be easy, and that the government would review it at regular

intervals

, halting it if there was no progress. Referring to the last negotiations with the Farc, which failed ten years ago, he stressed that this time around, there would be no ceasefire and no safe haven for the rebels.

The Farc leader, known as Timochenko, said in a video message that the rebels would not get up from the negotiation table until peace had been achieved.

The US Democratic Party is opening a three-day convention in Charlotte in North Carolina. The highlight of the first day is expected to be an address by the First Lady Michelle Obama. From Charlotte, Paul Adams.

The stage is set for the Democratic Party's response to the Republican convention last week in Tampa. Delegates have been gathering all day, and the atmosphere here inside the convention hall is full of excitement. The