Colombian FARC Rebels To
Release Three Hostages
Colombian rebel group
the Revolutionary Armed
forces of Colombia (FARC)
said Saturday that it
was planning to release
three hostages, local
media reported.
The FARC said in a
statement given to local
Noticias Uno television
that it planned to free
Gloria Polanco de Losada,
Luis Eladio Perez and
Orlando Beltran because
of their health problems
after being held for
over six years.
Without giving a date
for their release, the
FARC said its goodwill
offer was in recognition
of efforts by Venezuelan
President Hugo Chavez
and leftist Colombian
Senator Piedad Cordobato
mediate an exchange of
key hostages for jailed
FARC rebels.
The rebel group added it
would like to free the
hostages in Colombian
territory to Chavez or a
delegate chosen by him.
The statement came a day
before Colombians
planned a national march
against the FARC and
kidnapping, and it could
put pressure on
Colombian President
Alvaro Uribe to make
efforts to reach a deal
with the rebels on
hostage swap.
According to the
Colombian government, 44
FARC hostages, mostly
foreigners and
policemen, are
considered
"interchangeable" due to
their political status,
while at least 700
people are held hostage
for extortion.
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