Colombian hostage releases 'soon'

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Venezuela says left-wing guerrillas in Colombia are planning to free four hostages on Wednesday in what would be the second release brokered by Caracas.

Farc rebels had told the Venezuelan government where to collect the four, Interior Minister Ramon Rodriguez said.

The four, former members of congress, are among some 40 high-profile hostages held for years by the Farc guerrillas.

Last month, two women were freed in the first major breakthrough in years, raising hopes of more hostage releases.

"We now have with precision the place where the four hostages are being held by the Farc, " Mr Rodriguez told a news conference in Caracas on Monday.

He said that Venezuelan helicopters could be ready to leave early on Wednesday to pick them up.

Farc want to exchange some of the hostages for jailed rebels

Rebels from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) had said in a statement on 31 January that they would free three hostages as a result of mediation efforts by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

The hostages were named as former lawmakers Luis Eladio Perez, Gloria Polanco and Orlando Beltran.

They later said they would free Jorge Gechem, a former congressman who is said to be suffering serious ill health.

The Colombian authorities have said that, as before, they are ready to facilitate the rescue operation.

The commander of the Colombian army, Gen Mario Montoya, denied Venezuelan accusations that military operations were taking place in the planned release zone.

Firm stance

Ties between Colombia and Venezuela have been strained in recent months.

But last month, Mr Chavez helped broker a deal to free two hostages, Clara Rojas and Consuelo Gonzalez, who were picked up by Venezuelan helicopters from Colombian territory and flown on to Caracas to be reunited with their waiting families.

If this second unilateral move happens, it would raise hopes that more hostages may be freed, among them French-Colombian Ingrid Betancourt and three US defence contractors.

The rebels have long wanted to exchange their high-profile hostages for hundreds of jailed guerrillas.

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has maintained a firm stance against the Farc, which is regarded as a terrorist group by the US and the European Union.

Farc rebels are also thought to be holding several hundred other hostages, many of whom were taken for ransom to help fund rebel operations.