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December 2, 2008 11:39:59 AM CST

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France to Admit Colombian Rebels in Hostage Deal

Posted Dec 19, 07 12:38 PM CST in World 

(Newser) – France's PM said today the country will take in freed Colombian rebels as part of an exchange for the 46 hostages the rebel group FARC is holding, including a former presidential candidate who holds dual French-Colombian citizenship. The offer came hours after FARC agreed to release three hostages—a former congresswoman, an aide to the presidential candidate, and the latter's infant son.

FARC said it would hand over the three captives to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who was working to negotiate a larger prisoner exchange until the Colombian government “fired” him for favoring the rebels. FARC will release the three to show their support for Chavez. A Colombian journalist reported last year that the infant was the result of a relationship with one of the mother's captors.

Sources BBC, Associated Press

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Demonstrators wear T-shirt with the photograph of former Colombian presidential candidate, Ingrid Betancourt, kidnapped by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, during a protest demanding...   (Associated Press)
A reproduction of an undated photograph showing former congresswoman Consuelo Gonzalez kidnapped since 2001 by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC. The leftist organization said in a communique...   (Associated Press)
Kidnapped former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, right, and her running mate Clara Rojas are seen during her captivity at an undisclosed location in this image from television made...   (Associated Press)
Clara Rojas is seen during her captivity at an undisclosed location in this image from television made available Aug. 31, 2003. The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, said in a communique...   (Associated Press)
Clara Rojas, mother of former Vice-President candidateClara Rojas, talks on the phone as she holds a portrait of her daughter at the request of a local journalist, during a press conference in Bogota,...   (Associated Press)
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