BOGOTA - Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos confirmed Monday that his government had made contacts in Cuba with the leaders of the country's rebel Armed Revolutionary Forces (FARC) as a first step to start peace talks.

In an address broadcast from the presidential headquarters in the capital, Santos said contacts had been made in Cuba with the leftist guerrilla group but added military operations against the armed insurgents would continue throughout the country.

In the coming days, the government will release the details of its contacts with the rebel group, and the efforts are aimed at ending the long armed conflict between the government security forces and the rebels.

Santos also said the government officials and rebel representatives had signed an agreement in Havana, Cuba, to start peace talks on Oct 5 in Oslo, Norway.

Peace talks could bring an end to the half century long fighting between the the government forces and the leftist insurgents that has killed thousands from the both sides, including top government officials.