Rebel group, FARC, releases soldier

• Tweet

POLICARPA, Colombia, Feb. 17 (UPI) -- Officials said the rebel group FARC released a 19-year-old soldier who had been captured in Colombia during combat late last month.

Josue Alvarez was released Saturday in the same municipality in which he was captured, Policarpa, Colombia Reports said.

"They treated me well," Alvarez told reporters.

Delegates of the Red Cross and former Sen. Piedad Cordoba worked to have Alvarez released, Colombia Reports said.

The rebels banned kidnapping for political and economical reasons last year, Colombia Reports said, and instead has held prisoners of war.

But according to non-governmental organizations, FARC units have continued to kidnap soldiers.

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, better known by the Spanish acronym FARC, has been fighting a guerrilla war since 1964.