FARC rebels gather for 10th convention in SE Colombia

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrilla group on Friday gathered for what is expected to be their last convention as a rebel army before their demobilization.

The FARC's top commander, Rodrigo Londono Echeverri, whose nom de guerre is "Timochenko" or "Timoleon Jimenez," inaugurated the 10th National Guerrilla Conference in a remote rural enclave called El Diamante in southeast Colombia.

"More than 1,000 rebels from all over the country," according to Colombia's Caracol news website, gathered to discuss the group's transition from an armed guerrilla force to a political party or movement, following a peace agreement to be signed with the government on Sept. 26.

The deal "makes very clear that in this war there are no winners or losers," Timochenko told the crowd.

A video of the event posted by Caracol showed a smiling Timochenko addressing the crowd, a giant screen mounted on the stage behind him broadcasting his image for those seated in the back rows.

The FARC leader acknowledged that some rebels have been skeptical of the nearly four-year peace talks and the final agreement.

"Those who still have doubts about our struggle, we hope you approach us," said Timochenko.

Average Colombians will also have a chance to reject or accept the peace deal at a referendum scheduled for Oct. 2.

The conflict between the Colombian government and the rebel group started in the 1960s as an uprising for land rights. It has left about 220,000 people dead, 45,000 missing and nearly 7 million displaced. Endi