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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Colombian general 'freed by rebels' | Colombian general 'freed by rebels' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Farc rebels in Colombia have released a general and two others who were abducted two weeks ago, the president says. | Farc rebels in Colombia have released a general and two others who were abducted two weeks ago, the president says. |
| Gen Ruben Dario Alzate and the other captives were handed over to a humanitarian mission led by the International Red Cross, President Juan Manuel Santos said on Twitter. | Gen Ruben Dario Alzate and the other captives were handed over to a humanitarian mission led by the International Red Cross, President Juan Manuel Santos said on Twitter. |
| All three were in good health. | All three were in good health. |
| Gen Alzate's abduction on 16 November prompted the president to suspend peace talks with the rebels in Cuba. | Gen Alzate's abduction on 16 November prompted the president to suspend peace talks with the rebels in Cuba. |
| Mr Santos had said that he expected the hostages to be freed earlier in the week. | Mr Santos had said that he expected the hostages to be freed earlier in the week. |
| But the Farc cancelled the operation, blaming a "heavy military presence" where the hostages were being held in Choco province, an isolated jungle region in Colombia's Pacific Coast. | But the Farc cancelled the operation, blaming a "heavy military presence" where the hostages were being held in Choco province, an isolated jungle region in Colombia's Pacific Coast. |
| Local media reported that Pastor Alape, a Farc negotiator and commander of the rebel block responsible for the abductions, had travelled from Cuba to personally co-ordinate the release of the hostages. | |
| Mr Santos said that the peace talks would resume once Gen Alzate and his companions were safely home. | Mr Santos said that the peace talks would resume once Gen Alzate and his companions were safely home. |
| Gen Alzate, Cpl Jorge Rodriguez and lawyer Gloria Urrego were kidnapped 14 days ago while travelling along the Atrato river by boat. | |
| On Saturday, the Farc announced in Havana that the "special humanitarian protocol" to free the three hostages had been activated. | |
| The protocol is well known in Colombia and usually involves the Farc giving the government co-ordinates for the handover point. | |
| The Colombian president then orders a ceasefire in the area for around 48 hours. | |
| Once military operations have stopped, the hostages are released to the Red Cross for a medical check before being taken to safety. | |
| The Farc had said that it kidnapped the general because it was unhappy that President Santos continued the military operation against them during peace talks. | |
| The negotiations in Havana have been under way for two years and aim to bring an end to five decades of conflict. |