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December 2, 2008 12:17:01 PM CST

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Venezuela To Pick Up Hostages in Colombia

Posted Dec 26, 07 5:48 PM CST in World 

(Newser) – Three hostages held for more than five years by Marxist guerrillas will soon go free after Colombia agreed today to a handover plan engineered by Hugo Chavez, Reuters reports. Venezuelan planes and helicopters will pick up Clara Rojas, a former vice presidential candidate kidnapped in 2002; the young son she had in captivity; and a former lawmaker.

The liberation of the captives could spur the release of other kidnap victims, including three US contractors. Colombian authorities have cracked down on the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, but they continue to hold around 750 hostages for ransom and political leverage, Reuters notes. Colombian leaders bristled at the intervention by Chavez but agreed to the rescue under the Red Cross banner.

Source Reuters

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A boy looks at photos of police and soldiers who were kidnapped by rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces or FARC, in Bogota, Colombia, Thursday, Nov. 22, 2007, at a demonstration demanding the release...   (Associated Press)
A photo of U.S. citizen Mark Gonsalves, kidnapped by rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, is seen during a protest in Bogota, Thursday, Nov. 22, 2007. Colombia's government canceled...   (Associated Press)
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez speaks during a news conference at Miraflores Presidential Palace in Caracas, Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2007. Chavez said that he hopes three hostages will be freed by Colombian...   (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)
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kidnapping • Venezuela • hostage • Colombia • Hugo Chávez • FARC • Clara Rojas


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