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| Version 14 | Version 15 |
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| Colombian hostages freed by Farc | Colombian hostages freed by Farc |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Four hostages held by Colombian left-wing Farc rebels have been released, in a deal brokered by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. | Four hostages held by Colombian left-wing Farc rebels have been released, in a deal brokered by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. |
| The four had a tearful reunion with relatives after being released in the Colombian jungle to Venezuelan envoys. | The four had a tearful reunion with relatives after being released in the Colombian jungle to Venezuelan envoys. |
| The Farc says it will not free more hostages until Colombia creates a demilitarised zone for peace talks. | The Farc says it will not free more hostages until Colombia creates a demilitarised zone for peace talks. |
| One of the remaining hostages, Ingrid Betancourt, is said by the freed hostages to be very ill. | One of the remaining hostages, Ingrid Betancourt, is said by the freed hostages to be very ill. |
| Firm stance | Firm stance |
| The hostages, all former members of Congress, are Luis Eladio Perez, Gloria Polanco, Orlando Beltran and Jorge Gechem. | The hostages, all former members of Congress, are Luis Eladio Perez, Gloria Polanco, Orlando Beltran and Jorge Gechem. |
| The four were handed over to Venezuelan and Colombian politicians and Red Cross personnel, who had arrived in the jungle on two helicopters to collect them. | The four were handed over to Venezuelan and Colombian politicians and Red Cross personnel, who had arrived in the jungle on two helicopters to collect them. |
| I always waited for him and I always fought for him Lucy GechemHostage's wife href="/1/hi/world/americas/7268257.stm">Farc back in limelight class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7267923.stm">Hand of Chavez evidentIn pictures: Hostage release | |
| Video footage showed the hostages appearing, raising their hands in the air and embracing officials sent to pick them up. | Video footage showed the hostages appearing, raising their hands in the air and embracing officials sent to pick them up. |
| The helicopters took the hostages back to Venezuela, where they were transferred onto private planes for the flight on to Caracas where they met relatives. | The helicopters took the hostages back to Venezuela, where they were transferred onto private planes for the flight on to Caracas where they met relatives. |
| Among those waiting in Venezuela's capital, Mr Gechem's wife Lucy was emotional when she heard the news. | Among those waiting in Venezuela's capital, Mr Gechem's wife Lucy was emotional when she heard the news. |
| "I don't know what I am going to say to him, because it is going to be such a happy moment," she told local radio. "I always waited for him and I always fought for him." | "I don't know what I am going to say to him, because it is going to be such a happy moment," she told local radio. "I always waited for him and I always fought for him." |
| Chavez intervention | Chavez intervention |
| After meeting with the freed hostages at the presidential palace, Mr Chavez demanded that Farc release Ms Betancourt. | After meeting with the freed hostages at the presidential palace, Mr Chavez demanded that Farc release Ms Betancourt. |
| Mr Perez said Ms Betancourt had been very badly treated by her captors and was in poor condition. | Mr Perez said Ms Betancourt had been very badly treated by her captors and was in poor condition. |
| "It hurts my soul, she is very bad, very, very sick. She is physically and morally exhausted." | "It hurts my soul, she is very bad, very, very sick. She is physically and morally exhausted." |
| The four had a tearful but happy reunion with relatives in CaracasTies between Colombia and Venezuela have been strained in recent months. | The four had a tearful but happy reunion with relatives in CaracasTies between Colombia and Venezuela have been strained in recent months. |
| But last month, Mr Chavez helped broker a deal to free two hostages, Clara Rojas and Consuelo Gonzalez, who were picked up by Venezuelan helicopters from Colombian territory and flown on to Caracas to be reunited with their waiting families. | But last month, Mr Chavez helped broker a deal to free two hostages, Clara Rojas and Consuelo Gonzalez, who were picked up by Venezuelan helicopters from Colombian territory and flown on to Caracas to be reunited with their waiting families. |
| The release will raise hopes that more hostages might be freed, among them Ms Betancourt and three US defence contractors. | The release will raise hopes that more hostages might be freed, among them Ms Betancourt and three US defence contractors. |
| Mr Eladio Perez urged US politicians to increase the pressure for the release of the three Americans. | Mr Eladio Perez urged US politicians to increase the pressure for the release of the three Americans. |
| "I bring a very clear message for the president and for presidential candidates [Barack] Obama and [John] McCain," he said. | "I bring a very clear message for the president and for presidential candidates [Barack] Obama and [John] McCain," he said. |
| "Please don't leave these Americans in exile in the Colombian jungle." | "Please don't leave these Americans in exile in the Colombian jungle." |
| French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said Wednesday's release was a "powerful encouragement" in the task of freeing the remaining captives. | French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said Wednesday's release was a "powerful encouragement" in the task of freeing the remaining captives. |
| US state department spokesman Tom Casey welcomed the move, but said it was "reprehensible" that the Farc was continuing to hold hostages. | US state department spokesman Tom Casey welcomed the move, but said it was "reprehensible" that the Farc was continuing to hold hostages. |
| Pressure for concessions | Pressure for concessions |
| The rebels have long wanted to exchange their high-profile hostages for hundreds of jailed guerrillas. | The rebels have long wanted to exchange their high-profile hostages for hundreds of jailed guerrillas. |
| COLOMBIAN HOSTAGES Gloria Polanco: Former congresswoman, 42, kidnapped in 2001Luis Eladio Perez: Former senator, 50, kidnapped in 2001Orlando Beltran: Former congressman, 50, kidnapped in 2001Jorge Gechem: Former congressman, 57, kidnapped in 2002 Q: Colombia hostagesThe rebels: A fading force? | COLOMBIAN HOSTAGES Gloria Polanco: Former congresswoman, 42, kidnapped in 2001Luis Eladio Perez: Former senator, 50, kidnapped in 2001Orlando Beltran: Former congressman, 50, kidnapped in 2001Jorge Gechem: Former congressman, 57, kidnapped in 2002 Q: Colombia hostagesThe rebels: A fading force? |
| 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. | 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. | 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. |
| But Colombian Defence Minister Juan Manuel Santos said on Wednesday that the Farc was using its calls for dialogue to gain political space and discredit the government. | But Colombian Defence Minister Juan Manuel Santos said on Wednesday that the Farc was using its calls for dialogue to gain political space and discredit the government. |
| Farc rebels are also thought to be holding several hundred other hostages, many of whom were taken for ransom to help fund rebel operations. | Farc rebels are also thought to be holding several hundred other hostages, many of whom were taken for ransom to help fund rebel operations. |