FARC Admits its Actions Harmed Colombian Civilians

The Colombian rebel group FARC acknowledged for the first time on Thursday its actions have affected civilians and said it is ready to take "responsibility."

The admission comes as FARC and the Colombian government are engaged in peace talks in Cuba to end the country's long-running conflict.

"We explicitly recognize that our actions have affected civilians...We are expressly responsible for any and all acts of war carried out by our units," said Paul Atrato, one of the group's leaders at the Havana talks.

Atrato and several other leaders from the leftist group recently joined negotiations with President Juan Manuel Santos' government.

In 2013, the group took its share of the responsibility for the victims of the conflict that dates back to the 1960s.

But this is the first time the group, which claims to fight for the poor in Colombia, has admitted its actions have affected civilians.

The statement of responsibility from the 8,000-strong Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) comes as both sides discuss the issue of victim reparations.

Colombia's internal conflict has left 220,000 dead and displaced 5.3 million people, according to official figures.