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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Chavez 'begins hostage mission' | Chavez 'begins hostage mission' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has sent two helicopters to Colombia to pick up three hostages expected to be freed by left-wing Farc rebels. | |
| The helicopters, carrying Red Cross insignia and Colombia's blessing, left at 1530 local time (2000 GMT). | The helicopters, carrying Red Cross insignia and Colombia's blessing, left at 1530 local time (2000 GMT). |
| The rebels said last week they would hand over the hostages to Mr Chavez but the plan has been delayed. | The rebels said last week they would hand over the hostages to Mr Chavez but the plan has been delayed. |
| Mr Chavez acted as a mediator between Farc and Colombia for months until Bogota said he overstepped his mandate. | Mr Chavez acted as a mediator between Farc and Colombia for months until Bogota said he overstepped his mandate. |
| He said the main rescue operation, codenamed "Emmanuel", had been delayed because Farc had not yet disclosed the precise location of the captives. | |
| "The information is that there is bad weather, they are travelling and they have difficulty communicating in the jungle," Mr Chavez told Reuters news agency. | "The information is that there is bad weather, they are travelling and they have difficulty communicating in the jungle," Mr Chavez told Reuters news agency. |
| Observers | |
| The hostages expected to be freed are Clara Rojas, captured during her 2002 vice presidential campaign, former lawmaker Consuelo Gonzalez, taken the year before, and Ms Rojas' son Emmanuel, said to have been fathered by one of her rebel captors about four years ago. | The hostages expected to be freed are Clara Rojas, captured during her 2002 vice presidential campaign, former lawmaker Consuelo Gonzalez, taken the year before, and Ms Rojas' son Emmanuel, said to have been fathered by one of her rebel captors about four years ago. |
| Among the observers present as the helicopters took off from western Venezuela were former Argentine President Nestor Kirchner and American film director Oliver Stone. | Among the observers present as the helicopters took off from western Venezuela were former Argentine President Nestor Kirchner and American film director Oliver Stone. |
| The three hostages are among some 45 high-profile captives the guerrillas want to swap for some 500 rebels in Colombian jails. | |
| There are several hundred hostages overall being held by the guerrillas. | |
| Some are held for political leverage but many also for ransom by Farc, who have been fighting the Colombian government for more than four decades. |