HAVANA: Colombian peace negotiators missed Wednesday’s deadline for a final accord but talks will continue in Havana to end Latin America’s longest war, representatives of the government and the FARC rebels said.

The government of Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and leftist rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, had set a self-imposed March 23 deadline to reach a comprehensive pact.

“In all honesty, we have to inform the public that at the moment there are still important differences with the FARC,” Humberto de la Calle, the government’s lead negotiator, said at a news conference.

“We are going to make every effort to reach a final agreement. But this requires quick decisions,” a clearly frustrated de la Calle said, adding that talks that have already stretched for more than three years could not be indefinite.

Latin America’s longest war has killed some 220,000 people and displaced millions of others since 1964.

The conference was held hours behind schedule as the two sides unsuccessfully tried to agree on a common statement and produce a roadmap toward peace. Instead the government and the FARC issued separate communiques.