FARC hostages to be freed

Published: Dec. 27, 2007 at 1:45 AM

BOGOTA, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- The Colombian government said Wednesday it would allow Venezuelan aircraft to land in the country to pick up three hostages held for years by leftist rebels.

The plan to accomplish the release of the three hostages, including a child born in captivity, will involve representatives from five nations, Mercopress reported.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez set forth the plan after negotiating with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as FARC, Mercopress said.

FARC leaders said last week they would free Clara Rojas, a former vice presidential candidate, her 3-year-old son, Emmanuel, and former lawmaker Consuelo Gonzales.

"If the operation begins tomorrow (Thursday) morning, before the day is over Clara, Consuelo and Emmanuel could be here," Chavez said.

Red Cross and Venezuelan aircraft will fly from Venezuela to Villavicencio in Colombia's Meta Province, south of Bogota, and then on to pick up the hostages at an undisclosed jungle location. Their final destination will be Caracas, Venezuela, Chavez said.

Representatives of France, Argentina, Brazil, Cuba and Ecuador, as well as the International Committee of the Red Cross, will be involved.

The three hostages are among 45 the rebels want to exchange for about 500 FARC members held by the Colombian government.

© 2007 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Order reprints



Additional News Stories
Listeria causes illness at much lower dose
Drug companies to fight neglected diseases
Unhappy at school ups teen pregnancy risk
NBA: Los Angeles Lakers 121, Phoenix 102
NHL: Dallas 3, San Jose 2 (SO)
Anti-psychotics overused for dementia
Scandal-ridden Spitzer gives ethics talk
fark
Whoever left a sawn-off alligator head in a rural field in Yorkshire, England, congratulations,...
Fired is what you get for thinking with the little Florida, and not listening to the big Florida....
Drew's list of 'seasonal' stories is woefully incomplete without "annual turkey baster search"
Experts wonder if the upswing in retail theft may be connected to the unemployment rate. What the...
MPAA shuts down an entire town's wi-fi because one person illegally downloaded a movie. Take that,...
Verizon has found a way to charge you for accidental keystrokes