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Colombian president says rebels free hostages including general
By Julia Symmes Cobb
30/11/2014
BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said Marxist FARC rebels had freed an army general and two others on Sunday, paving the way for peace talks to resume in the quest to end five decades of conflict.
Santos halted peace negotiations in Havana two weeks ago after the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia seized five hostages, including General Ruben Dario Alzate, disrupting the push to stem violence that has killed more than 200,000 people.
Santos refused to allow the talks, which had advanced more than previous attempts, to continue until all the hostages were freed. Alzate, Corporal Jorge Contreras and civilian lawyer Gloria Urrego were released in a jungle area near where they taken hostage in the Pacific province of Choco.
"Alzate, lawyer Urrego and Corporal Rodriguez freed in perfect conditions and awaiting the right weather conditions for the return to their families," Santos wrote on his Twitter feed.
There was no immediate confirmation from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) which is overseeing the release.
The rebels liberated two captive soldiers on Tuesday.
The FARC negotiating team in Cuba has said it is eager to restart talks. However, the group's leader Rodrigo Londono, known by his nom de guerre "Timochenko", released a statement last week saying Santos had violated a general agreement stating that the talks must not be interrupted.
(Additional reporting by Peter Murphy; Editing by Helen Murphy and Raissa Kasolowsky)
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