Colombia used Red Cross symbol in rescue

BOGOTA, July 16 (UPI) -- Colombia's president admitted Wednesday to using the Red Cross symbol during the rescue of 15 high-profile hostages earlier this month.

President Alvaro Uribe said the use of the politically neutral Red Cross symbol, reportedly worn by Colombian forces as they approached the hostages and their leftist rebel captors, was a "slip up," El Tiempo reported online.

Use of the Red Cross symbol by anyone other than the International Committee of the Red Cross, particularly in a combat situation, could be considered a war crime, according to legal experts, CNN reported.

Colombian forces mounted a July 2 rescue operation that freed former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt along with three U.S. defense contractors and 11 others.