CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Colombia's largest guerrilla group is expected to release three captive Colombian politicians in the coming days or weeks, France's foreign minister said Wednesday.
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, will likely free political leader Gloria Polanco, former Sen. Luis Eladio Perez, ex-congressman Orlando Beltran and possibly a fourth unnamed politician "within several days or weeks," Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said he was told in a closed-door meeting Wednesday with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
The FARC first announced plans to release the ailing Polanco, Perez and Beltran — who have been held captive for more than six years — in a Jan. 31 communique, saying its decision stemmed from efforts by Chavez and "other friendly governments" to help resolve Colombia's decades-long armed conflict.
Chavez has been trying to negotiate a hostages-for-prisoners swap with the rebels for months, but a spat erupted in November when Colombian President Alvaro Uribe accused him of overstepping his authority by directly contacting Colombia's army chief.
Chavez froze contacts with Uribe but still sought to mediate with the FARC.
In late December, he attempted to broker the release of three hostages, leaving scores of reporters, celebrities and Venezuelan officials waiting for days in the jungle. Two women were freed on Jan. 10 and a third hostage, a child, was found to no longer be in rebel hands.
The FARC wants to trade more than 40 high-value hostages — including former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and three U.S. defense contractors — for hundreds of imprisoned guerrillas.
It was not immediately clear if Kouchner and Chavez discussed the possible release of Betancourt, who has dual French and Colombian citizenship.
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