2,612 guerrillas have demobilized this year

The Colombian government says 2,612 guerrillas from the FARC, ELN and other groups have turned in their arms this year to begin reinsertion programs, including 374 in September.

The figure is made up of 346 FARC members, 23 from the ELN and five from other bands. It also includes 40 minors, reported Spanish news agency EFE. Comparison data was not available.

Since president Álvaro Uribe took office, government data shows 17,068 combatants have abandoned the armed conflict. Critics say the numbers are inflated by non-combatants who join the process to gain health and educational benefits offered by the reinsertion program.

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