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Colombia kidnapping: Farc says it will release Gen Alzate on Sunday | Colombia kidnapping: Farc says it will release Gen Alzate on Sunday |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Farc rebels in Colombia have announced they will free an army general and two other hostages they abducted earlier this month on Sunday. | |
The release of Gen Ruben Dario Alzate and the other hostages had been expected a few days ago. | The release of Gen Ruben Dario Alzate and the other hostages had been expected a few days ago. |
But the rebels cancelled the operation because of heavy military presence in the area where they are being held. | But the rebels cancelled the operation because of heavy military presence in the area where they are being held. |
The kidnappings prompted President Juan Manuel Santos to suspend peace talks with the rebels being held in Cuba. | The kidnappings prompted President Juan Manuel Santos to suspend peace talks with the rebels being held in Cuba. |
On Tuesday, the Farc released two soldiers - Paulo Cesar Rivera and Jonathan Andres Diaz - it had kidnapped on 9 November in the eastern border region of Arauca. | On Tuesday, the Farc released two soldiers - Paulo Cesar Rivera and Jonathan Andres Diaz - it had kidnapped on 9 November in the eastern border region of Arauca. |
Gen Alzate was captured on 16 September along with a Cpl Jorge Rodriguez and a lawyer, Gloria Urrego, in Choco province, an isolated jungle region in Colombia's Pacific Coast. | Gen Alzate was captured on 16 September along with a Cpl Jorge Rodriguez and a lawyer, Gloria Urrego, in Choco province, an isolated jungle region in Colombia's Pacific Coast. |
In a statement released in Havana, the rebels say the three hostages will be handed over to a Red Cross team on Sunday. | In a statement released in Havana, the rebels say the three hostages will be handed over to a Red Cross team on Sunday. |
But they warn that the operation could be cancelled in case of bad weather: "We hope that the weather will be on our side on this humanitarian mission," the Farc statement said. | But they warn that the operation could be cancelled in case of bad weather: "We hope that the weather will be on our side on this humanitarian mission," the Farc statement said. |
Handover details: Arturo Wallace, BBC News, Bogota | Handover details: Arturo Wallace, BBC News, Bogota |
The left-wing rebel group also called on the government to be inspired by its decision to release its hostages. | The left-wing rebel group also called on the government to be inspired by its decision to release its hostages. |
"We wish that other prisoners, arrested for political or social reasons, are also able to enjoy their freedom. That would be an easy, humanitarian gesture from the government," the statement says. | "We wish that other prisoners, arrested for political or social reasons, are also able to enjoy their freedom. That would be an easy, humanitarian gesture from the government," the statement says. |
The Farc said previously that it kidnapped Gen Alzate because they were unhappy at the continuation of Colombian military activities during peace talks. | The Farc said previously that it kidnapped Gen Alzate because they were unhappy at the continuation of Colombian military activities during peace talks. |
They had called for a ceasefire, rejected by the government. | They had called for a ceasefire, rejected by the government. |
Mr Santos has suspended the peace talks, which began two years ago in Cuba, and said they would only be resumed once Gen Alzate was released. | Mr Santos has suspended the peace talks, which began two years ago in Cuba, and said they would only be resumed once Gen Alzate was released. |
The negotiations are aimed at ending five decades of a conflict that has killed an estimated 220,000 people. | The negotiations are aimed at ending five decades of a conflict that has killed an estimated 220,000 people. |
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