U.S. wants to extradite FARC kidnappers

BOGOTA, July 9 (UPI) -- The United States will ask Colombia to extradite two men detained in the mission that freed 15 hostages, including three Americans, Colombian officials said.

If extradited, the two members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, would face federal charges in the United States of hostage-taking and supporting a foreign terrorist organization, CNN reported.

The detained FARC members were identified as Gerardo Antonio Aguilar Ramirez, known as "Cesar," and Alexander Farfan Suarez, also known as "Gafas."

The United States planned to initiate extradition proceedings Wednesday, Colombian officials said in a statement.

Among the hostages rescued last week were U.S. defense contractors Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell, as well as Ingrid Betancourt, a prominent Colombian politician. Eleven Colombian police officers and soldiers also were rescued when Colombian military forces tricked FARC members into turning over the hostages, who then were taken away in a helicopter.