Colombia’s right-wing paramilitary warlords asked the United States on Tuesday to join negotiations to disarm their fighters, in an apparent attempt to tackle U.S. extradition requests complicating talks. The 13,000-member United Self Defense Forces of Colombia, known by its Spanish initials AUC, requested a “direct and permanent channel” of communication with the United States. It also wants representatives of the U.S. State and Justice departments involved in talks, where AUC bosses are pushing for guarantees to keep them out of jail. “The AUC keeps requesting … that the State Department and the Justice Department directly participate in the negotiations,” it said in a communique, signed by AUC military boss Salvatore Mancuso on behalf of senior command. Full Story