Freed hostage reunited with son

Published: Jan. 14, 2008 at 11:30 PM

BOGOTA, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- A hostage freed by her captors in Colombia has been given full custody of her 3-year-old son taken from her while in captivity, it was reported Monday.

However, a Colombian child welfare official said it could be about two weeks before Clara Rojas' son, Emmanuel, is returned to her because he must first undergo a series of psychological and medical exams, CNN reported.

Rojas got a chance to hug her son Sunday during a visit with him at a foster home.

"Emmanuel must be with his mother," said Elvira Forero, head of the Child Welfare Institute of Colombia. "He must enjoy this right that has been taken away from him by the FARC."

FARC is the leftist rebel group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, which held Rojas for several years in a jungle hideout. FARC, which has been fighting the Colombian government for decades, holds about 700 hostages.

"He spent his first 11 months of life with a fractured arm, without any medical support that would help him cope with his pain," Forero said. "Today, he is a happy boy. He is sweet and loving ...."

FARC freed Rojas and former congresswoman Consuelo Gonzalez Thursday following negotiations with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Order reprints



Additional News Stories
Watercooler Stories
UPI Thoroughbred Racing Roundup
Jockstrip: The world as we know it.
COL BKB: Wash. 88, Cal.St. Northridge 76
Abba, Queen top karaoke picks in Britain
Your Daily Horoscope
The almanac
fark
Train buffs arrested after builoding their own locomotive out of spare parts, garden furniture and...
The six scariest processed foods the world has ever seen, or as they are known in America, 'lunch'...
1,200 limos, 140 private planes and caviar wedges galore. Yep, the Climate Summit
4-hour search with helicopter and bloodhounds caused by a bridesmaid getting so drunk at the reception...
West Dorset police, called to investigate mysterious incidents of horse's manes being plaited, respond...
Today's Instashop Challenge: "Can you photoshop my six-month old on his sled onto some extreme mountains...