Colombian FARC rebels ask Miss Universe to attend negotiations

HAVANA, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- Rebels with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, otherwise known as FARC, on Saturday invited the newly-crowned Miss Universe to attend peace talks with the Colombian government.

Colombian beauty queen Paulina Vega, 22, was named Miss Universe in Miami last month and has in previous interviews spoken of her desire to see peace in Colombia, even going so far as to offer her presence at negotiations in Cuba.

FARC representatives jumped on that offer amid deadlocked talks with the Colombian government in Havana. "We have read with interest about your desire to contribute your services to achieve peace and reconciliation between Colombians," FARC said in a statement. Vega has not responded to the request.

The FARC is a Marxist-inspired rebel group based in Colombia's mountainous rural areas. Since 1964 the group has fought the Bogota government in a civil war that has claimed over 220,000 lives, mostly civilians.

In 2012 both sides began negotiating in Havana to end the conflict, with FARC officials agreeing to a cease-fire with the Colombian government late last year.

Both sides have reached agreement about land reform and political integration of the FARC, but other elements of the deal remain locked in stalemate.