The FARC is holding some 750 hostages, including 39 high-value hostages whom the group wants to swap for some 500 of its imprisoned members.

New FARC leader Cano is widely regarded as someone more likely to be ready to enter into negotiations with the Colombian government over the hostage release and possibly long-term peace.

Colombia's local radio quoted Carlos Lozano, a Colombian newspaper editor who has had past contacts with the FARC, as saying on Sunday that he and former cabinet minister Alvaro Leyva had resumed preliminary efforts for negotiations on a hostage deal with the FARC.

Colombia Senator Piedad Cordoba, who is also a mediator with the FARC, told Radio Caracol, "We are very close to that release process."

New hope for Venezuela,Colombia to mend ties

Chavez's statement was welcomed by the Colombia government led by Uribe, a strong US ally who has been at odds with Chavez on almost everything from diplomatic guidelines to trade.

Observers see Chavez's remarks as offering a glimmer of hope that the two countries could mend their long-chilled relations.

"Hopefully FARC will listen," Colombian Minister of Interior and Justice Carlos Holguin told Caracol television, calling Chavez's proposal "great".