This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7266837.stm

The article has changed 18 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 16 Version 17
Colombian hostages freed by Farc Colombian hostages freed by Farc
(about 1 hour 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 talks.
One of the remaining hostages, Ingrid Betancourt, is said by the freed hostages to be very ill. One of the remaining and most prominent hostages, Ingrid Betancourt, is said by the freed hostages to be very ill.
Firm stanceFirm 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 Farc back in limelightHand of Chavez evidentIn pictures: Hostage releaseI always waited for him and I always fought for him Lucy GechemHostage's wife Farc back in limelightHand 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 was Mr Gechem's wife Lucy, who 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 interventionChavez intervention
After meeting with the freed hostages at the presidential palace, Mr Chavez demanded that Farc release Ms Betancourt. After meeting the freed hostages at the presidential palace, Mr Chavez made what he called an appeal "from the heart" to the Farc's leader to move Ms Betancourt to a safe location.
Mr Perez said Ms Betancourt had been very badly treated by her captors and was in poor condition. "Move her to a base closer to you while we continue working to pave the way for her definitive release," he said.
Mr Perez said Ms Betancourt, a former presidential candidate who holds dual Colombian-French nationality, 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. It was a tearful reunion in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas
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 latest releases follow the freeing last month of two women, Clara Rojas and Consuelo Gonzalez, which Mr Chavez also helped to broker.
The release will raise hopes that more hostages might be freed, among them Ms Betancourt and three US defence contractors. These developments have raised hopes that more hostages might be released.
Mr Eladio Perez urged US politicians to increase the pressure for the release of the three Americans. But Mr Perez said Ingrid Betancourt is convinced she will be the last to be freed.
"I bring a very clear message for the president and for presidential candidates [Barack] Obama and [John] McCain," he said. He also urged US politicians to increase the pressure for the release of the three American defence contractors, saying he had a clear message for President George W Bush and the US presidential candidates.
"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 concessionsPressure for concessions
The rebels have long wanted to exchange their high-profile hostages for hundreds of jailed guerrillas. The rebels, who have long wanted to exchange their high-profile hostages for hundreds of jailed guerrillas, repeated their demand that a demilitarised zone be created where talks can take place on a prisoner exchange.
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&A: 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&A: 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, who has tense relations with his Venezuelan counterpart, thanked Mr Chavez for his help and reiterated his call for all hostages to be freed.
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. Mr Uribe has maintained a firm stance against the Farc, which is regarded as a terrorist group by the US and the European Union.
Colombia was involved in a fight against "kidnapping and terrorism", Mr Uribe said, but the nation was "always ready for forgiveness and reconciliation".
The BBC's Jeremy McDermott in Medellin 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.