Calendar of scantily clad women to 'subdue Colombian rebels'

The Colombian military's newest weapon in the campaign to encourage defections from rebel groups is a calendar of women in bikinis. The army has printed thousands of the pocket calendars which urges them to desert "and get the benefits." Officials are hoping the women will help get the word out about the government's demobilisation programme for rebel and paramilitary deserters, according to Col Manuel Forero.

They have begun distributing them in two special security zones where the military has been given extraordinary powers to subdue insurgents, Col Forero said. The new tactic has been condemned by peace activist Gloria Cuartas.

"With these acts, the army is demonstrating that in Colombia, women's bodies are a war trophy," she complained. The army has also printed up fake 20,000 peso bills with a message on the back urging rebels and militia members to turn themselves in to the nearest military authorities. As Colombia's war has escalated in recent months, more and more insurgents are deserting.

So far 1,135 have deserted from the ranks of the rebels and right-wing militias this year compared with 327 last year.