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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)
The Farc rebel group in Colombia have announced they will free an army general and two other hostages they abducted earlier this month on Sunday. 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, BogotaHandover 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.