BOGOTA, Colombia (CNN) -- Rebels with the Revolutionary Armed Forces
                  of Colombia (FARC) said this weekend they will continue their armed
                  struggle against the government despite ongoing peace talks.

                  The rebels, holding peace discussions with government officials in the remote
                  northern village of San Vincente del Caguan, maintain they will not agree to
                  a cease-fire until the government agrees to a number of provisions,
                  including dismantling right-wing paramilitary groups.

                  "We are ready for whatever happens, for war or peace. And since there is
                  no cease-fire and no agreement ... combat will continue in other parts of
                  the country," said FARC military commander Jorge Briceno. "That's
                  what the government chose, not us."

                  Since the talks started Thursday, more than 130 people have died in a wave of
                  attacks authorities blame on paramilitaries.

                  The most horrific incident occurred in Playon de Orozco, a village in
                  Magdalena province, where alleged members of the United Self-Defense
                  Forces of Colombia (AUC) slaughtered at least 27 people Saturday afternoon.

                  Police and military spokesmen said about 70 heavily armed gunmen swept into
                  the riverfront village while residents packed the local church for a baptismal
                  Mass.

                  The gunmen, carrying lists with the names of their intended victims, selectively
                  dragged them outside the church and shot them dead while other villagers and
                  a parish priest watched in horror, police said.

                  Police said eight other people were gunned down by paramilitary fighters at
                  dawn on Sunday in Toluviejo, a small town in northern Sucre province.

                  And about 15 others, all suspected rebel sympathizers, were killed by
                  ultra-right gunmen in fresh violence on Sunday in northwest Antioquia
                  province, officials said.

                  Holiday truce over

                  The renewed violence erupted after a unilateral holiday truce by paramilitary
                  groups ended Wednesday.

                  FARC, the Western hemisphere's largest and most powerful insurgency, took
                  advantage of the AUC's cease-fire to launch an attack on the mountain
                  stronghold of AUC leader Carlos Castano on December 27.

                  At least 30 people were killed in that raid, and Castano, a fervent
                  anti-communist, vowed to take revenge.

                  The paramilitary groups were formed more than a decade ago by landowners
                  -- allegedly to counter guerrilla kidnappings and extortion -- and are alleged to
                  be supported by the military. Human rights groups accuse the Colombian army
                  of giving the groups tacit support.

                  FARC has ruled out negotiations with the paramilitaries, while the government
                  has said it will hold talks with them at a later date. The government and FARC
                  rebels concluded their first working session Saturday.

                  In a joint statement, they stressed the process would not be easy or quick. But
                  they repeated their commitment to come to a lasting peace. It is the third time
                  the government has attempted to make peace with the rebels since the civil
                  war began more than three decades ago.

                  The conflict has claimed more than 35,000 mostly civilian lives in the last
                  decade alone.

                                 Reuters contributed to this report.