Colombia

Former governor released by leftist rebels in Colombia

Former governor released by leftist rebels in ColombiaBogota  - Alan Jara, former governor of the central Colombian province of Meta, was released Tuesday by leftist Colombian rebels after more than seven years in captivity.

"I am free. I have rested for seven-and-a-half years, now it's time to work," Jara told reporters in Meta capital Villavicencio.

Red Cross: Colombian rebels release another hostage

Alan JaraBogota  - Leftist rebels in Colombia on Tuesday released a former provincial governor that they had held hostage since 2001, a representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross confirmed.

Alan Jara, former governor of the southern province of Meta, was handed over to Red Cross officials, Yves Heller, the spokesman for the organization in Colombia, told reporters.

Following Jara's release by the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in the jungle in southern Colombia, he was set to travel in a Brazilian helicopter to the city of Villavicencio, near the Colombian capital Bogota, Heller said.

At least 20 killed in Colombia bus accident

At least 20 killed in Colombia bus accident Bogota  - At least 20 peo

Red Cross says no Colombian hostages will be released Monday

Red Cross says no Colombian hostages will be released Monday Bogota  - A Colombian politician held hostage by leftist rebels is not set to be released before Tuesday despite earlier plans that he might be free again Monday, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said.

However, the Red Cross noted that plans for the release of Alan Jara, a former governor of the central Colombian province of Meta, and that of former regional legislator Sigifredo Lopez continue, after the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) offered to free them.

Colombian rebels blamed for attack that left 2 dead, 15 injured

Colombian rebels blamed for attack that left 2 dead, 15 injured Bogota - A car-bomb attack that killed two people and left 15 others injured was planted by leftist rebels, Mayor Jorge Ospina of the Colombian city of Cali said Monday.

General Gustavo Ricaurte, the Cali police commander, directly blamed "FARC terrorists" for the attack that happened late Sunday.

Just hours earlier, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) had freed four hostages, fulfilling the Marxist insurgent group's promise of a unilateral release.

Uribe authorizes Colombian senator to go in search of two hostages

Colombian President Alvaro UribeBogota  - Colombian President Alvaro Uribe backtracked Monday and authorized opposition Senator Piedad Cordoba to be part of a mission that is set to go in search of two further hostages that leftist rebels plan to release.

In a highly controversial decision, Uribe had originally decided to prevent the group Colombians For Peace - made up of journalists, politicians and academics and led by Cordoba - from taking part in any releases after comments made by members accused the Colombian Armed Forces of coming close to frustrating other releases Sunday.

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