FARC Rebels Free 4 Hostages

Prisoners were politicians, who had been held for more than 6 years
By Sam Gale Rosen,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 27, 2008 2:56 PM CST
FARC Rebels Free 4 Hostages
In this photo released by Miraflores Press Office, Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez speaks during a meeting with his ministers at Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008. Chavez brokered the deal to release four politicians from FARC custody. (AP Photo/Miraflores Press Office)   (Associated Press)

Colombian FARC rebels today set free four former Colombian legislators who had been held hostage for more than six years. The deal was brokered by Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, and three of the four will fly to Caracas to speak with him. The fourth is in poor health and may require immediate medical treatment, reports CNN.

A spokesman for the Red Cross in Columbia calls the deal to free the four politicians "an excellent collaboration." The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, is holding an estimated 750 hostages in the country's jungle. Other prisoners include a former candidate for president of Colombia and three US citizens. (More Colombia stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X