This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-38846925
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Odin Sanchez freed: Colombia's ELN rebels release key hostage | Odin Sanchez freed: Colombia's ELN rebels release key hostage |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Colombia's National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels have freed a key hostage, clearing the way for peace talks with the government next week. | Colombia's National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels have freed a key hostage, clearing the way for peace talks with the government next week. |
| Ex-congressman Odin Sanchez, 62, had been held by the ELN since he offered to swap places with his ailing brother in April 2016. | Ex-congressman Odin Sanchez, 62, had been held by the ELN since he offered to swap places with his ailing brother in April 2016. |
| President Juan Manuel Santos had insisted Mr Sanchez be released before peace talks could begin in Ecuador. | President Juan Manuel Santos had insisted Mr Sanchez be released before peace talks could begin in Ecuador. |
| He was handed over in the remote jungle region of Choco, in western Colombia. | He was handed over in the remote jungle region of Choco, in western Colombia. |
| The government confirmed Mr Sanchez's release, saying: "Odin Sanchez is now with the humanitarian commission and will leave minutes from now in a helicopter bound for [the regional capital] Quibdo." | |
| In exchange, President Santos sanctioned the release of two jailed ELN fighters. | In exchange, President Santos sanctioned the release of two jailed ELN fighters. |
| Nixon Cobos and Leivis Valero were handed back in the mountains of Santander, in the country's north-east. | Nixon Cobos and Leivis Valero were handed back in the mountains of Santander, in the country's north-east. |
| The ELN announced earlier this week that it was also holding another hostage, a Colombian soldier previously reported missing by the army. | |
| Freddy Moreno was seized on 24 January in the eastern province of Arauca. | |
| The ELN said it was willing to release him, too. | |
| The ELN, a 2,000-strong communist guerrilla army, has been in conflict with successive Colombian governments since 1964. | The ELN, a 2,000-strong communist guerrilla army, has been in conflict with successive Colombian governments since 1964. |
| Last year the government signed a peace accord with the country's largest rebel group, the Farc, and Mr Santos has said he wants a deal with the ELN to bring complete peace to the country. | Last year the government signed a peace accord with the country's largest rebel group, the Farc, and Mr Santos has said he wants a deal with the ELN to bring complete peace to the country. |
| Talks with the the group were due to begin last October, but collapsed when the rebels refused to release Mr Sanchez. | Talks with the the group were due to begin last October, but collapsed when the rebels refused to release Mr Sanchez. |
| They are now scheduled to open on 7 February in the Ecuadorean capital Quito. | They are now scheduled to open on 7 February in the Ecuadorean capital Quito. |