Colombia's leftist FARC guerrillas pledged Thursday to stop recruiting children under 17 years old, increasing the age at which it inducts youths into its ranks from 15 to 17.

"The FARC ... has decided from now on not to incorporate minors under 17 years old into the ranks of the guerrillas, and expresses the wish to soon reach a peace accord with social justice," the rebels' chief peace negotiator in ongoing talks with the government, Ivan Marquez, told journalists.