The three men, Niall Connolly, Martin McCauley and James Monaghan, responded to the trial judge here in the Colombian capital after their lawyers failed to get the case dismissed earlier this week, the defense had claimed the men were not in Colombia at the time they allegedly aided FARC.

The Irishmen were arrested by the Colombian authorities on August 11, 2001, at Bogota's international airport after a visit to the Colombian interior where they allegedly trained FARC guerillas in bomb-making techniques.

According to court sources, the three defendants will present accounts pleading their innocence which will be followed by testimonies from their lawyers.

Prosecutors have noted that McCauley and Monaghan had been detained on explosives charges in Ireland in the past, prosecutors also claim they have evidence the Irish Republican Army had helped train and equip FARC guerillas.

The men's defence lawyers, however, argue the three Irishmen were in southern Colombia to learn about the details of the Colombian peace process, and not helping rebels.

WAR.WIRE