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| Colombia Farc hostages released | Colombia Farc hostages released |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Four Farc hostages have been released in Colombia, despite unconfirmed reports that the operation to free them was hampered by the military. | Four Farc hostages have been released in Colombia, despite unconfirmed reports that the operation to free them was hampered by the military. |
| A member of the release mission said they were leaving the jungle where they were being held by helicopter. | A member of the release mission said they were leaving the jungle where they were being held by helicopter. |
| A journalist travelling with the mission said earlier it had been on the verge of being aborted, an accusation denied by a senior government official. | A journalist travelling with the mission said earlier it had been on the verge of being aborted, an accusation denied by a senior government official. |
| The captives were among 28 "political hostages" held by Farc. | The captives were among 28 "political hostages" held by Farc. |
| The Farc says two politicians will also be released later in the week. | The Farc says two politicians will also be released later in the week. |
| They are the first unilateral releases by Farc in almost a year, but analysts say chances for peace talks with Colombia's government remain remote. | They are the first unilateral releases by Farc in almost a year, but analysts say chances for peace talks with Colombia's government remain remote. |
| In jeopardy | In jeopardy |
| Ricardo Montenegro, a spokesman for Senator Piedad Cordoba, a left-wing deputy who helped broker the deal to free the hostages, said they were on their way by helicopter to Villavicencio, a city east of Bogota. | Ricardo Montenegro, a spokesman for Senator Piedad Cordoba, a left-wing deputy who helped broker the deal to free the hostages, said they were on their way by helicopter to Villavicencio, a city east of Bogota. |
| Ms Cordoba went to secure the release accompanied by a delegation from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). | |
| Policeman Alexis Torres Zapata was among the four hostagesThey flew into the jungle of Caqueta state to a pre-arranged spot to receive the hostages - two police officers and a soldier. | Policeman Alexis Torres Zapata was among the four hostagesThey flew into the jungle of Caqueta state to a pre-arranged spot to receive the hostages - two police officers and a soldier. |
| But journalist Jorge Botero said the army, which had agreed to cease its operations in the area for a limited period to allow the handover, had put it in jeopardy by pursuing the mission's helicopter. | But journalist Jorge Botero said the army, which had agreed to cease its operations in the area for a limited period to allow the handover, had put it in jeopardy by pursuing the mission's helicopter. |
| "This pursuit was ordered by military commanders," Botero told Venezuelan TV. "The operation was basically on the verge of being aborted." | "This pursuit was ordered by military commanders," Botero told Venezuelan TV. "The operation was basically on the verge of being aborted." |
| Colombian peace commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo said Botero's accusations were "baseless". | Colombian peace commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo said Botero's accusations were "baseless". |
| Farc has said the release will be followed by that of a former lawmaker, Sigifredo Lopez, and a former governor, Alan Jara, by Wednesday. | Farc has said the release will be followed by that of a former lawmaker, Sigifredo Lopez, and a former governor, Alan Jara, by Wednesday. |
| The six are among some 28 "political hostages" held by the group in the hope of securing the release of some of their own jailed members. | The six are among some 28 "political hostages" held by the group in the hope of securing the release of some of their own jailed members. |
| Farc is also believed to hold hundreds of other hostages. | Farc is also believed to hold hundreds of other hostages. |