COLOMBIAN liberation army Farc called for a truce in the civil war on Tuesday as a crucial step towards achieving a final peace deal at talks in Cuba.

Farc (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) delegation leader Ivan Marquez said it regretted recent deaths in combat, which could have been avoided by a bilateral ceasefire.

Four Colombian soldiers were killed and six wounded on Monday when their helicopter landed in a minefield during operations against Farc.

Mr Marquez appealed to President Juan Manuel Santos and Defence Minister Luis Carlos Villegas to end the war and “avoid more pointless victims.”

The Havana peace talks have been going on for more than two years while hostilities continue in Colombia, despite repeated calls by Farc for an armistice.

Mr Marquez condemned Bogota’s “stubborn decision” to continue fighting, noting that “an atmosphere of trust and harmony” was needed for a final peace deal.