Panama has also branded the FARC a terrorist group.
But Brazil, Ecuador and Venezuela have separately rejected Uribe's request, arguing that they want to remain ''viable mediators'' in the event of future peace talks in Colombia.
They have agreed to condemn ''terrorist actions,'' but not to brand the FARC as a terrorist group. Ecuador's foreign minister, Nina Pacari, was even quoted as making the ridiculous assertion that labeling the FARC as terrorists would amount to ''intervening'' in Colombia's internal affairs.
Not surprisingly, the FARC was elated. In a banner headline on its official website, the FARC boasted on March 9 that ''neighboring countries refuse to take part in the war carried out by Uribe and [President] Bush.'' It added, ``Ecuador refuses to define the FARC as terrorists. Brazil and Venezuela had done so earlier.***