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Belgians released after being taken hostage in jungle

Four Belgian tourists held hostage by protesting farmers were released late on Saturday after security forces in boats and helicopters located the group in Guatemala's eastern jungle, officials said.

The four Belgians, their Guatemalan guide and a boat operator were traveling in a tourist area 250km northeast of Guatemala City when they were abducted on Friday by farmers demanding the release of their jailed leader.

Authorities had been negotiating with the kidnappers, while at the same time 150 police officers in boats and soldiers in helicopters searched the jungle area for the hostages to mount a rescue mission if talks failed, officials said.

Late on Saturday, Ronaldo Robles, communications secretary for the presidential office, said the Belgians were free.

Luis Chol, a member of the farmers' group that took the six hostages, said they were forced to release the Belgians because they were being attacked.

The police "followed us and attacked us and killed one of our comrades," he said by telephone.

Robles denied anyone was killed. He said the hostages would be taken to a naval base on the Guatemalan Caribbean and then flown to Guatemala City.

The Belgians were identified as Eric Stosstris, 62, his wife Jenny Stosstris, 59, and their friends Gabriel and Mary Paul van Huysse, ages 64 and 62, all from Ghent.

Robles said they were exchanged for three farmers who had been arrested by police earlier on Saturday. It was unclear if the two Guatemalans had been released.

Rolando Yoc, a human rights official who was mediating the standoff, said "now it is up to the government to set up negotiations as planned."

The government had said they wouldn't meet any of the farmers' demands until the tourists were released.

The farmers are demanding the legalization of their land claims and freedom for their leader, Ramiro Choc, who was arrested on Feb. 14 on charges of illegal land invasion and robbery.

They say they have lived on the disputed land for more than a decade and that a powerful person is trying to kick them off it.
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