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Farc 'ready to release hostages' 'Farc agrees to hostage release'
(30 minutes later)
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has said Colombia's Farc rebels are ready to release two high-profile hostages and have told him where they are. Colombia has agreed to a Venezuelan mission to secure the release of two high-profile hostages held by Colombia's Farc rebels.
Mr Chavez said Venezuela would request permission from Colombia to pick up the two hostages. Colombia will "provide necessary guarantees" to make sure the hostages return home, said Colombia's Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo.
Mr Restrepo said the International Red Cross would oversee the mission.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Farc had told him where the hostages were being held.
He said Venezuelan helicopters could pick up the hostages as early as Thursday morning.
The hostages are former Congresswoman Consuelo Gonzalez and Clara Rojas, an aide to former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt.The hostages are former Congresswoman Consuelo Gonzalez and Clara Rojas, an aide to former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt.
The Colombian government has not yet commented on Mr Chavez's statement. A mission to release the two hostages, plus the three-year-old son of Ms Rojas, failed less than two weeks ago.
Mr Chavez said that Venezuelan helicopters could pick up the hostages as early as Thursday morning. Farc accused the Colombian government of sabotaging the hostage release; but the government said the rebels backed out of the deal.
His comments come after a mission to release the two hostages, plus the three-year-old son of Ms Rojas, failed less than two weeks ago.
Farc accused the Colombian government of sabotaging the hostage release; but the government said rebels backed out of the deal.
Colombia said DNA tests proved that the boy was actually living in a foster home in Bogota, and not being held captive in the jungle.Colombia said DNA tests proved that the boy was actually living in a foster home in Bogota, and not being held captive in the jungle.