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Colombia Farc hostages released Colombia Farc hostages released
(20 minutes later)
Four Farc hostages have been released in Colombia, despite unconfirmed reports that the operation to free them was hampered by the military. Four people who had been held hostage by Colombia's left-wing Farc rebels since 2007 have been released.
A member of the release mission said they were leaving the jungle where they were being held by helicopter. Helicopters carrying representatives of the Red Cross flew to a pre-arranged spot in the jungle to collect the three police officers and a soldier.
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. They were the first captives to be unilaterally released by the rebels in almost a year.
The captives were among 28 "political hostages" held by Farc. The Farc have suffered recent setbacks as the government drives them further into mountain and jungle areas.
The Farc says two politicians will also be released later in the week. They have said they intend to free two politicians in the coming days.
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. The four were among 28 "political hostages" held by the group, which wants to use them to secure the release of some of their own jailed members.
In jeopardyIn 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 politician who helped broker the deal to free the hostages, said they were flown to Villavicencio, a city east of Bogota, on a Brazilian helicopter.
Ms Cordoba went to secure the release accompanied by a delegation from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).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. They flew into the jungle of Caqueta state to a pre-arranged spot to receive the hostages.
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. Jorge Botero, a journalist travelling with the mission, said earlier it had been on the verge of being aborted, a report denied by a senior government official.
Mr 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. The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) said the release would 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. But analysts say chances for peace talks with Colombia's government remain remote
Farc is also believed to hold hundreds of other hostages. The Farc, who have been fighting the government since the 1960s, are believed to hold hundreds of hostages.