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Colombia's Farc rebels release hostages Colombia's Farc rebels release hostages
(about 1 hour later)
Colombia's Farc rebels have released their last 10 police and military hostages - some of whom have spent 14 years in captivity.Colombia's Farc rebels have released their last 10 police and military hostages - some of whom have spent 14 years in captivity.
They were collected from the jungle by a Brazilian military helicopter and flown to safety.They were collected from the jungle by a Brazilian military helicopter and flown to safety.
President Juan Manuel Santos welcomed the releases but said they were "not enough" to open direct peace talks.President Juan Manuel Santos welcomed the releases but said they were "not enough" to open direct peace talks.
Farc has been fighting Colombia's government for five decades, making it Latin America's oldest insurgency.Farc has been fighting Colombia's government for five decades, making it Latin America's oldest insurgency.
The rebels, who have lost ground in recent years, are still holding an unknown number of civilians hostage.The rebels, who have lost ground in recent years, are still holding an unknown number of civilians hostage.
These releases 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 painful chapters. These latest releases signal the abandonment of the Farc's aim to secure the release of imprisoned comrades by capturing and kidnapping members of the security forces and politicians to force a prisoner exchange.
The Farc began holding soldiers and policemen captured in combat in 1996. Their declared intent was to force an exchange of the hostages for imprisoned rebels, but that never took place. By giving up all kidnapping, the guerrillas shut down one of their traditional streams of income, although in recent years drug trafficking and extortion have far outstripped money earned from ransom.
Some politicians, including former President Alvaro Uribe, have said that the beleaguered Farc are simply trying to buy time and improve their image by freeing the hostages. But others, including ex- President Ernesto Samper, see it as a clear sign that the guerrillas are ready for peace talks. Over the last 10 years, the rebels' numbers have been halved from around 16,000 to 8,000 fighters.
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. Whereas they once controlled more than a third of Colombia, now they have been pushed back into mountain and jungle strongholds.
But the Farc are far from beaten, and it is likely is that they will continue to increase their attacks in the hope of strengthening their position at any negotiating table.
Television pictures showed the former hostages waving and punching the air as they got off the helicopter at the city of Villavicencio, where they were welcomed by their relatives and given medical checks before being flown on to the capital, Bogota.Television pictures showed the former hostages waving and punching the air as they got off the helicopter at the city of Villavicencio, where they were welcomed by their relatives and given medical checks before being flown on to the capital, Bogota.
Some emerged with their pets, which included a peccary - a kind of wild pig - and a monkey.Some emerged with their pets, which included a peccary - a kind of wild pig - and a monkey.
"Welcome to liberty, soldiers and policemen of Colombia," Mr Santos said at the presidential palace."Welcome to liberty, soldiers and policemen of Colombia," Mr Santos said at the presidential palace.
"Freedom has been very delayed but now it is yours, to the delight of the whole country.""Freedom has been very delayed but now it is yours, to the delight of the whole country."
But he warned that until all hostages were freed, his government would continue its policy of confronting armed groups.But he warned that until all hostages were freed, his government would continue its policy of confronting armed groups.
"When the government believes there are enough guarantees to begin a process that leads to the end of the conflict, the country will know it," he said."When the government believes there are enough guarantees to begin a process that leads to the end of the conflict, the country will know it," he said.
The hostage release was co-ordinated by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and a group of Colombian mediators led by former senator Piedad Cordoba.The hostage release was co-ordinated by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and a group of Colombian mediators led by former senator Piedad Cordoba.
"We express our great happiness at the success of this operation that allowed in just one day the reunion of 10 families that were waiting for so many years," the head of the ICRC in Colombia, Jordi Raich, said."We express our great happiness at the success of this operation that allowed in just one day the reunion of 10 families that were waiting for so many years," the head of the ICRC in Colombia, Jordi Raich, said.
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.
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.
After drug trafficking, kidnapping for ransom has been the group's main source of income, but it has drawn national and international condemnation. In February, the Farc promised to end the practice.After drug trafficking, kidnapping for ransom has been the group's main source of income, but it has drawn national and international condemnation. In February, the Farc promised to end the practice.