Colombia Farc hostages released

Four Farc hostages have been released in Colombia, despite unconfirmed reports that the operation to free them was hampered by the military.
Sunday, 1 February 2009 -- news.bbc.co.uk

A member of the release mission said they were leaving the jungle where they were being held by helicopter.

A journalist travelling with the mission said earlier it had been on the verge of being aborted, an accusation denied by a senior government official.

The captives were among 28 "political hostages" held by Farc.

The Farc says two politicians will also be released later in the week.

They are the first unilateral releases by Farc in almost a year, but analysts say chances for peace talks with Colombia's government remain remote.

In jeopardy

Ricardo Montenegro, a spokesman for Senator Piedad Cordoba, a left-wing deputy who helped broker the deal to free the hostages, said they were on their way by helicopter to Villavicencio, a city east of Bogota.

Ms Cordoba went to secure the release accompanied by a delegation from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

They flew into the jungle of Caqueta state to a pre-arranged spot to receive the hostages - two police officers and a soldier.

But journalist Jorge Botero said the army, which had agreed to cease its operations in the area for a limited period to allow the handover, had put it in jeopardy by pursuing the mission's helicopter.

"This pursuit was ordered by military commanders," Botero told Venezuelan TV. "The operation was basically on the verge of being aborted."

Colombian peace commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo said Botero's accusations were "baseless".
Farc has said the release will be followed by that of a former lawmaker, Sigifredo Lopez, and a former governor, Alan Jara, by Wednesday.

The six are among some 28 "political hostages" held by the group in the hope of securing the release of some of their own jailed members.

Farc is also believed to hold hundreds of other hostages.