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Colombia set for Farc hostage release Colombia set for Farc hostage release
(about 21 hours later)
Final preparations are under way in Colombia for the promised release of the last 10 military and police captives held by the Farc rebel group. An operation has begun in Colombia to collect a group of hostages that the Farc rebels have promised to release.
Two Brazilian helicopters are standing by to collect the first hostages from a secret jungle location on Monday. A Brazilian airforce helicopter has set off to pick up the police and military hostages from a secret jungle location.
Military operations in the area have been suspended. The Farc have promised to free the last 10 members of the security forces they are holding this week, in what mediators have described as a gesture of peace.
President Juan Manuel Santos has made the release of all hostages one condition for opening talks with the Farc to end five decades of conflict. All the captives have been held for more than a decade.
He also wants the left-wing group to end all attacks and stop drug trafficking and the recruitment of children.
"Peace gesture"
The hostage release is being co-ordinated by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and a group of Colombian mediators led by the former senator Piedad Cordoba.The hostage release is being co-ordinated by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and a group of Colombian mediators led by the former senator Piedad Cordoba.
Ms Cordoba has said the releases are a unilateral "gesture of peace" by the Farc that should lead to dialogue.Ms Cordoba has said the releases are a unilateral "gesture of peace" by the Farc that should lead to dialogue.
Relatives of the hostages have gathered in the city of Villavicencio in central Colombia, from where the Brazilian helicopters are due to set off. President Juan Manuel Santos has made the release of all hostages one condition for opening talks with the Farc to end five decades of conflict.
The Farc have said they will release the captives - which they call "prisoners of war" - in two groups on 2 and 4 April. But he also wants the left-wing group to end all attacks and stop drug trafficking and the recruitment of children.
All have been held for well over a decade after being captured in guerrilla attacks. Delay
Relatives of the hostages have gathered in the city of Villavicencio in central Colombia, from where the Brazilian helicopter set off.
The operation was delayed for several hours by heavy rain
The Farc have said they will release the captives - which they call "prisoners of war" - in two groups, on 2 and 4 April.
For many years the rebels tried to use captured members of the security forces as bargaining tools to try to secure the release of jailed guerrillas.For many years the rebels tried to use captured members of the security forces as bargaining tools to try to secure the release of jailed guerrillas.
But in February the Farc announced that it would free the last 10 hostages and promised to end the practice of kidnap for ransom. But in February, the Farc announced that it would free the last 10 hostages and promised to end the practice of kidnap for ransom.
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) have been fighting for power in Colombia since the 1960s.The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) have been fighting for power in Colombia since the 1960s.
But over the past decade they have suffered a series of setbacks, losing several top commanders and much of their strength.But over the past decade they have suffered a series of setbacks, losing several top commanders and much of their strength.
After drug trafficking, kidnapping for ransom has been the group's main source of income, but the practice has drawn national and international condemnation.After drug trafficking, kidnapping for ransom has been the group's main source of income, but the practice has drawn national and international condemnation.