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Rebels in Colombia announce plans to liberate hostages

Leftist rebels have announced they will liberate three politicians held hostage for more than six years because of health problems, Colombian radio Caracol reported.

The radio network said yesterday that it received an e-mail from rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), announcing the rebels will release Gloria Polanco, Luis Eladio Perez and Orlando Beltran, all kidnapped in 2001, without putting a date on the liberation.

The e-mail could not immediately be confirmed, but the FARC have made previous announcements about hostages through similar channels.

FARC said it would like to free the hostages in Colombian territory to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez or a delegate chosen by him.

In the statement, dated Jan. 31, the rebels said that they would free the hostages because of Chavez's work in trying to mediate a deal between the FARC and the Colombian government that would swap dozens of hostages in return for the release of hundreds of imprisoned rebels.

"These liberations are a direct consequence of the realistic, complete and transparent effort by President Chavez and other friendly governments in the search for a political solution to this humanitarian crisis," the statement said.

The Colombian government rescinded Chavez's role as a mediator, accusing him of going behind President Alvaro Uribe's back and directly contacting Colombia's top generals.

The FARC released two high-profile hostages last month, including an aide to French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt, Clara Rojas.

The two, who were freed to representatives of the Venezuelan government, brought letters from other hostages still in captivity, detailing the terrible conditions in which they were forced to live.

The rebels repeated their desire in the statement for a deal that would exchange their hostages, such as Betancourt and three kidnapped US defense contractors, for jailed rebels.

Former senator Eladio Perez was kidnapped in June 2001. Other hostages have said that he has been held in jungle camps along with Betancourt.

Polanco, a political leader, was kidnapped along with her two sons and another dozen others in August 2001. The other hostages were gradually released.

Marches to denounce the FARC and their kidnapping tactics are scheduled to be held today in Colombia and cities around the world, with nearly 100,000 people confirming their participation on the social networking Web site Facebook.
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