Bogota - About 12,000 indigenous farmers arrived in central Bogota after marching for more than 10 days along several routes from south-western Colombia to press for the return of ancestral lands.

The native campesinos converged Friday in the capital's Plaza Bolivar, where they were joined by university students and members of trade and labour unions.

"We come here to denounce the human rights violations against us and to analyze the land issue," indigenous leader Aida Quilcue said.

One month earlier, a meeting between indigenous leaders and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe ended with agreement on the question of land tenancy.

The demonstration was expected to last several days. The indigenous group was also demanding the rejection of a free-trade agreement signed with the United States and the adoption of the UN Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples. (dpa)