NYT: Colombia rescues 'trophy hostages'

BOGOTA, July 8 (UPI) -- Family members of some captives still held by leftist rebels in Colombia complained that the government only chose to rescue "trophy hostages."

Last week, Colombian forces rescued former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, three U.S. contractors and 11 others held for years by the rebels.

"They rescued the trophy hostages, but what about those still in captivity?" asked Magdalena Rivas, the mother of Lt. Elkin Hernandez Rivas, a police officer captured by rebels a decade ago.

Hernandez is one of 25 political captives still being held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, The New York Times reported Tuesday. In all, the FARC is said to be holding more than 700 hostages.

The FARC has been battling the Colombian government for more than 40 years.