Colombian rebels free 4 more hostages

[Judi Lynn]

Colombian rebels free 4 more hostages

By TATIANA GUERRERO, Associated Press Writer
21 minutes ago

SAN JOSE DEL GUAVIARE, Colombia - Colombian rebels freed four lawmakers on Wednesday after holding them for at least six years each, the guerrillas' second hostage release this year as they seek to persuade the international community to strike them from lists of terrorist organizations.

The rebels handed over the four Colombian politicians to the International Red Cross and Venezuela's interior minister around midday in a clearing in Colombia's southern jungles. Two Venezuelan helicopters with doctors aboard flew them to Venezuelan territory, on their way to family reunions in Caracas. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez spoke to them by phone.

"They are safe and sound," said Jesse Chacon, a top Chavez aide. He said Venezuela hopes the release "will help us continue advancing on the path to achieving liberations of the remainder, and of course to what we all yearn for: peace in Colombia."

Chavez's intercession in Colombia's long-running conflict — and the hostage releases it has reaped — has raised the profile of the rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, as it seeks to persuade the European Union to remove it from its list of international terrorist groups.

More:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080227/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/venezuela_colombia_hostages

[Judi Lynn]

1. Colombian hostages freed by Farc

Last Updated: Wednesday, 27 February 2008, 18:35 GMT
Colombian hostages freed by Farc

COLOMBIAN HOSTAGES

• Gloria Polanco: Former congresswoman, 42, kidnapped in 2001
  
• Luis Eladio Perez: Former senator, 50, kidnapped in 2001
  
• Orlando Beltran: Former congressman, 50, kidnapped in 2001
  
• Jorge Gechem: Former congressman, 57, kidnapped in 2002

Four hostages held by Colombian left-wing Farc rebels have been released, Red Cross officials say.
The hostages were handed over to a delegation sent from Venezuela to secure their release, in a deal brokered by President Hugo Chavez.

A Red Cross spokeswoman said they were fit to travel, despite reports that some were in poor health.

The four ex-members of Colombia's congress are among some 40 high-profile hostages held for years by the Farc.
(snip)

The rebels have long wanted to exchange their high-profile hostages for hundreds of jailed guerrillas.

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has maintained a firm stance against the Farc, which is regarded as a terrorist group by the US and the European Union.

The BBC's Jeremy McDermott in Medellin, Colombia, says that with the release, the pressure on Mr Uribe to make concessions to the Farc will increase.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7266837.stm

[magbana]

2. Judi, thanks for sharing this good news!

[AlphaCentauri]

3. Great news, hope next they release more, including Betancourt. n/t