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New delay for Colombian hostages Colombian hostage release halted
(about 4 hours later)
Colombian leftist rebels say government military operations are blocking the release of three hostages, according to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. A Venezuelan-led mission to free three hostages held by Colombian left-wing Farc rebels has been suspended.
Venezuelan helicopters have been waiting since the weekend to pick up two women and a boy the Farc promised to release to Mr Chavez. The rebels said the planned release was not possible because of government military operations, according to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
They were due to be freed as a gesture but disagreements between Caracas and Bogota have dogged the process. But the Colombian president Alvaro Uribe said no new operations were under way and that the rebels may not be in possession of one of the hostages.
The Venezuelan leader read out what he said was a letter from the Farc on TV. The Farc had promised Mr Chavez that they would release two women and a boy.
Military operations "impede us for now from turning over" the three hostages, the Farc were quoted as saying. Venezuelan military helicopters that were to have collected the hostages are now on their way back home.
Promising that the operation would continue, Mr Chavez said the Farc required a "real ceasefire" before it would let the hostages go. Two of those slated to be freed were Clara Rojas, an aide to ex-presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, with whom she was kidnapped in 2002, and Ms Rojas's son, Emmanuel, said to have been fathered by one of her captors.
The operation had to be postponed on Sunday when Venezuelan officials said the Farc had not provided the co-ordinates for the handover and that there was not enough time to complete the mission. The third was former congresswoman Consuelo Gonzalez de Perdomo, who was kidnapped in 2001.
Colombian officials say they blame the rebels for the delays. Child 'in Bogota'
Women and child On Monday, the Venezuelan leader read out what he said was a letter from the Farc on television.
Those due to be freed are Clara Rojas, an aide to ex-presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, with whom she was kidnapped in 2002, and Ms Rojas's son, Emmanuel, said to have been fathered by one of her captors.
Several hundred hostages overall are being held by the FarcSeveral hundred hostages overall are being held by the Farc
The other captive is former congresswoman Consuelo Gonzalez de Perdomo, who was kidnapped in 2001. Military operations "impede us for now from turning over" the three hostages, the Farc were quoted as saying.
But President Uribe accused the rebels of lying, and said the boy may actually be in a children's home in the Colombian capital, Bogota.
"The Farc can't keep the promise to free the hostages because they no longer have the child, Emmanuel, in their power," he said.
President Uribe has asked relatives of Ms Rojas for DNA samples to prove that a three-year-old boy in the Colombian capital is really the missing Emmanuel.
The planned handover operation had to be postponed on Sunday when Venezuelan officials said the Farc had not provided the co-ordinates for the handover and that there was not enough time to complete the mission.
Fifteen members of the hostages' families, who have not seen their loved ones for more than five years, have been waiting in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.Fifteen members of the hostages' families, who have not seen their loved ones for more than five years, have been waiting in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.
Mr Chavez has been trying to negotiate an exchange of other hostages for guerrillas imprisoned in Colombian jails but he has been accused by the Colombian authorities of overstepping his mandate as a mediator.Mr Chavez has been trying to negotiate an exchange of other hostages for guerrillas imprisoned in Colombian jails but he has been accused by the Colombian authorities of overstepping his mandate as a mediator.
In response, he has threatened to freeze ties with the neighbouring state, which is a close trading partner.In response, he has threatened to freeze ties with the neighbouring state, which is a close trading partner.
It is believed that the Colombian government wants to regain the initiative with respect to the prisoner exchange and does not want Mr Chavez, perceived as being too friendly with the Farc, to hijack negotiations.It is believed that the Colombian government wants to regain the initiative with respect to the prisoner exchange and does not want Mr Chavez, perceived as being too friendly with the Farc, to hijack negotiations.