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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Freed hostages land in Venezuela | Freed hostages land in Venezuela |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Two women hostages freed by Colombian Farc rebels have arrived on a private jet at an airport near Caracas and have been reunited with their families. | |
| Clara Rojas and Consuelo Gonzalez had been held for several years. | Clara Rojas and Consuelo Gonzalez had been held for several years. |
| Both women have thanked Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez for helping mediate their release. | |
| Earlier they were flown out of the Colombian jungle by helicopter, in an operation overseen by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). | |
| Ms Gonzalez, 57, was kidnapped in 2001. Ms Rojas, 44, an aide to former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, was seized in 2002, while she and Ms Betancourt were out campaigning. | Ms Gonzalez, 57, was kidnapped in 2001. Ms Rojas, 44, an aide to former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, was seized in 2002, while she and Ms Betancourt were out campaigning. |
| I told them both: 'Welcome to life' Hugo ChavezVenezuelan president Profile: Freed hostagesColombia's armed groups | I told them both: 'Welcome to life' Hugo ChavezVenezuelan president Profile: Freed hostagesColombia's armed groups |
| Ms Betancourt, a French-Colombian citizen, is still in captivity. | Ms Betancourt, a French-Colombian citizen, is still in captivity. |
| A similar attempt to rescue them was called off last month amid recriminations between the rebels and the Colombian government. | A similar attempt to rescue them was called off last month amid recriminations between the rebels and the Colombian government. |
| In December, the Farc promised to release the women and Ms Rojas's three-year-old son, believed to have been fathered by one of the rebel captors. | In December, the Farc promised to release the women and Ms Rojas's three-year-old son, believed to have been fathered by one of the rebel captors. |
| But the rebels accused the Colombian government of sabotaging the hostage release by continuing military operations in the area. | But the rebels accused the Colombian government of sabotaging the hostage release by continuing military operations in the area. |
| The government said the Farc backed out of the deal because they no longer held the young boy, who was found to be living in a foster home in Bogota. | The government said the Farc backed out of the deal because they no longer held the young boy, who was found to be living in a foster home in Bogota. |
| Thursday's operation came about after Mr Chavez announced that he had received the co-ordinates for a handover. | Thursday's operation came about after Mr Chavez announced that he had received the co-ordinates for a handover. |
| Military operations in three areas in the south-eastern state of Guaviare were suspended to allow the handover to take place. Defence Minister Juan Manuel Santos said his troops watched as the helicopters landed just 2km from their base. | Military operations in three areas in the south-eastern state of Guaviare were suspended to allow the handover to take place. Defence Minister Juan Manuel Santos said his troops watched as the helicopters landed just 2km from their base. |
| The BBC's Jeremy McDermott in Colombia says the hostages' release is a coup for Mr Chavez, who has shown he has influence with the intractable Colombian rebels. | The BBC's Jeremy McDermott in Colombia says the hostages' release is a coup for Mr Chavez, who has shown he has influence with the intractable Colombian rebels. |
| He says the Venezuelan leader can now position himself as the mediator with the best chance of securing the release of the other 43 hostages, which the guerrillas are thought to want to exchange for hundreds of rebels in prison. | He says the Venezuelan leader can now position himself as the mediator with the best chance of securing the release of the other 43 hostages, which the guerrillas are thought to want to exchange for hundreds of rebels in prison. |
| Whilst the Colombian government officially welcomes the release of the two hostages, President Alvaro Uribe will have to reassess his position as pressure mounts on him to make concessions to the Farc, our correspondent says. | Whilst the Colombian government officially welcomes the release of the two hostages, President Alvaro Uribe will have to reassess his position as pressure mounts on him to make concessions to the Farc, our correspondent says. |
| 'Miracle release' | 'Miracle release' |
| Ms Rojas elderly mother, Clara Gonzalez de Rojas, said their release was a "miracle". | Ms Rojas elderly mother, Clara Gonzalez de Rojas, said their release was a "miracle". |
| "This is the biggest miracle my God could have ever given me," she told Colombian Caracol TV from Caracas, where she has been since December. | "This is the biggest miracle my God could have ever given me," she told Colombian Caracol TV from Caracas, where she has been since December. |
| "I'll be truly happy when I go with my daughter to retrieve my little grandson." | "I'll be truly happy when I go with my daughter to retrieve my little grandson." |
| Mr Chavez told reporters the freed women were emotional and in good health. | Mr Chavez told reporters the freed women were emotional and in good health. |
| "They are free. I told them both: 'Welcome to life'," he said. | "They are free. I told them both: 'Welcome to life'," he said. |