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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Chavez Farc hostage plan approved | Chavez Farc hostage plan approved |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Colombian government has approved a plan by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to send planes into Colombia to pick up rebel-held hostages. | The Colombian government has approved a plan by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to send planes into Colombia to pick up rebel-held hostages. |
| The Colombian rebel group, Farc, said it would free two hostages and a child but only to Mr Chavez. | The Colombian rebel group, Farc, said it would free two hostages and a child but only to Mr Chavez. |
| Colombia agreed but said any Venezuelan aircraft entering its territory must bear Red Cross markings. | Colombia agreed but said any Venezuelan aircraft entering its territory must bear Red Cross markings. |
| Mr Chavez's mediation broke down last month when Colombian President Alvaro Uribe told him to end negotiations. | Mr Chavez's mediation broke down last month when Colombian President Alvaro Uribe told him to end negotiations. |
| The left-wing Farc has been fighting the Colombian government for more than four decades and holds more than 40 hostages. | The left-wing Farc has been fighting the Colombian government for more than four decades and holds more than 40 hostages. |
| Exchange | Exchange |
| Mr Chavez had told reporters in Venezuela's capital, Caracas: "The only thing we need is authorisation from the Colombian government. We hope they will cooperate with us." | Mr Chavez had told reporters in Venezuela's capital, Caracas: "The only thing we need is authorisation from the Colombian government. We hope they will cooperate with us." |
| Colombian Foreign Minister Fernando Araujo in Bogota then announced the approval of Mr Chavez's plan, paving the way for the trio to be picked up within a day or so. | |
| The rebels have offered to free Clara Rojas, an aide to former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, and Ms Rojas' young son Emmanuel - who was reportedly fathered by one of her guerrilla captors. | |
| The deal would be the biggest hostage release in recent years | The deal would be the biggest hostage release in recent years |
| The other hostage is former congresswoman Consuelo Gonzalez, who was kidnapped in 2001. | The other hostage is former congresswoman Consuelo Gonzalez, who was kidnapped in 2001. |
| The Farc (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) have offered to release the three as a humanitarian gesture. | The Farc (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) have offered to release the three as a humanitarian gesture. |
| The BBC's Jeremy McDermott in Colombia says the rebels have got what they wanted by embarrassing their sworn enemy, Alvaro Uribe, a US ally. | The BBC's Jeremy McDermott in Colombia says the rebels have got what they wanted by embarrassing their sworn enemy, Alvaro Uribe, a US ally. |
| He says they have also put pressure on Mr Uribe to grant their request that he demilitarise a large area of south-western Colombia in which to hold negotiations for the liberation of the remaining hostages. | He says they have also put pressure on Mr Uribe to grant their request that he demilitarise a large area of south-western Colombia in which to hold negotiations for the liberation of the remaining hostages. |
| The Colombian president has been opposed to any exchange for rebel prisoners, insisting it would simply encourage the guerrillas to kidnap. | The Colombian president has been opposed to any exchange for rebel prisoners, insisting it would simply encourage the guerrillas to kidnap. |
| The freeing of the two women and a child would be the highest-profile hostage release during the presidency of Mr Uribe, who took office in 2002. | The freeing of the two women and a child would be the highest-profile hostage release during the presidency of Mr Uribe, who took office in 2002. |
| Ms Rojas, a 44-year-old lawyer, was kidnapped nearly six years ago along with Ms Betancourt, a French-Colombian national, during the latter's presidential campaign. | |
| Mr Chavez has said he hopes another group of hostages might be freed later, including Ms Betancourt, whose release French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been seeking. | Mr Chavez has said he hopes another group of hostages might be freed later, including Ms Betancourt, whose release French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been seeking. |