HAVANA: The Colombian government and leftist FARC guerrillas agreed to form a truth commission that would seek to shed light on atrocities once Latin America’s longest war is over.

Negotiators reached agreement despite a recent escalation of violence that has threatened the country’s peace talks, taking place in Cuba.

“The commission ... will begin to function after the signing of a final agreement and once the FARC have laid down their arms,” read the agreement announced by representatives of Cuba and Norway, two countries sponsoring the talks.