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Colombia set for Farc hostage release Colombia's Farc rebels release hostages
(about 1 hour later)
An operation has begun in Colombia to collect a group of hostages that the Farc rebels have promised to release. Colombia's Farc rebels have released their last 10 police and military hostages, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has said.
A Brazilian airforce helicopter has set off to pick up the police and military hostages from a secret jungle location. The captives were collected from the jungle by a Brazilian military helicopter.
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. All had been held for more than a decade after being captured in rebel attacks.
All the captives have been held for more than a decade. The Farc promised to release the hostages earlier this year in what mediators called a "gesture of peace".
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 rebels are still thought to be holding hundreds of civilians, although they have promised to stop kidnappings for ransom.
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 been waiting to welcome them in the city of Villavicencio in central Colombia, from where the Brazilian helicopter set off.
The hostage release was co-ordinated by the ICRC and a group of Colombian mediators led by former senator Piedad Cordoba.
Bargaining tools
These liberations by no means herald the end of Colombia's 47-year-old internal conflict, but they might mark the end of one of its most polemic and painful chapters.
The Farc began holding soldiers and policemen captured in combat back in 1996, with the declared intent of forcing a prisoner exchange that never took place.
Some politicians, including former President Alvaro Uribe, have said that by letting them go the beleaguered Farc are simply trying to buy time and improve their image. But for others, including former President Ernesto Samper, the gesture is a clear indication that the left-wing guerrillas are ready for peace talks.
Current President Juan Manuel Santos will move carefully. He wants peace but also knows a botched peace process would be the end of his political career. He might favour private talks over public ones until the Farc have made more gestures - or until his re-election, which he is expected to seek in 2014, is in the bag.
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.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.
But he also wants the left-wing group to end all attacks and stop drug trafficking and the recruitment of children.But he also wants the left-wing group to end all attacks and stop drug trafficking and the recruitment of children.
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.