Ecuador and Colombia have reestablished their diplomatic ties that were severed last year on the heels of a cross-border raid by the Colombian military into Ecuadorean territory.

Colombian Foreign Minister Jaime Bermudez said on Friday that Bogota and Quito have decided to reinstall their charges d'affaires.

"As planned in the roadmap, we have agreed to appoint our charges d'affaires," Bermudez told Radio Caracol, AFP reported.

Ecuadorean officials described the move in a statement as "a new step toward normalization of diplomatic relations."

In March 2008, Colombian forces conducted a cross-border attack into Ecuador to hunt down guerillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

The attack left 25 dead, including prominent FARC leader Raul Reyes.

RB/HGH