Colombia

Former hostage: Colombian rebels killed 11 lawmakers

Former hostage: Colombian rebels killed 11 lawmakers Bogota  - Colombian rebels accidentally killed 11 abducted lawmakers in 2007, a former hostage of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) said.

Sigifredo Lopez, a Colombian lawmaker who was abducted together with the 11 victims in 2002 in Cali, said Thursday that the leftist rebels had killed the politicians out of "persecution mania" after they had confused another rebel unit with the army.

Colombia remains mired in violence despite hostage releases

Colombia remains mired in violence despite hostage releasesBuenos Aires/Bogota  - In Colombia's cycle of hostage dramas, good news is the exception, rather than the rule. But this week was different - full of celebrations, and a few tears, as six men were freed and reunited with their families.

ROUNDUP: Colombia's FARC releases hostage politician

Colombia's FARC releases hostage politician Bogota  - Leftist Colombian rebels on Thursday released a former legislator who was taken hostage in 2002 and was the last politician held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

Sigifredo Lopez, 45, a former regional legislator in the Valle del Cauca province who was kidnapped on April 11, 2002, had an emotional reunion in Cali airport with his two sons, aged 18 and 20, and his wife and mother.

Later, hundreds of people gathered in Cali's San Francisco square to greet Lopez. "Let us demand the freedom of all the kidnapped," he said.

1ST LEAD: Colombia's FARC releases hostage politician

1ST LEAD: Colombia's FARC releases hostage politician Bogota - Leftist Colombian rebels on Thursday released a former legislator who was taken hostage in 2002 and was the last politician held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

Sigifredo Lopez, 45, a former regional legislator in the Valle del Cauca province who was kidnapped on April 11, 2002, had an emotional reunion in Cali with his two sons, aged 18 and 20, and his wife and mother.

A Brazilian Army helicopter transported Lopez from a rural area of Cauca province in southwestern Colombia.

FARC releases one more hostage, Red Cross says

FARC releases one more hostage, Red Cross says Bogota  - Leftist Colombian rebels on Thursday released a former legislator who was taken hostage in 2002, the International Committee of the Red Cross confirmed.

Sigifredo Lopez, a former regional legislator in the Valle del Cauca province who was kidnapped on April 11, 2002, was the last politician held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The rebels now hold hostage only police and military officers.

Loss of family was worst ordeal, released hostage says

Loss of family was worst ordeal, released hostage saysBogota  - Shackled every night, forced to walk through jungles and subjected to extreme deprivation, a released Colombian hostage said the worst aspect of his captivity was the loss of family, not his physical trials.

Alan Jara, a former governor of the central Colombian province of Meta who was held hostage by leftist rebels for seven and a half years, said Wednesday that enduring the absence of his family was tougher than being bound and abused.

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