Robbers refuse to give up hostages in Venezuela siege
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ALTAGRACIA DE ORITUCO, Venezuela  - Four robbers with pistols refused to give up about 30 hostages, including a pregnant woman and children, on Tuesday in a standoff with hundreds of heavily-armed police at a bank in central Venezuela.
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Venezuela scrambled on Thursday to organize an air convoy for the handover of three hostages held in Colombia by Marxist rebels, but the Red Cross said logistical difficulties mean it could take days to complete.
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Venezuela's leftist President Hugo Chavez prepared to send helicopters into Colombia on Friday to pick up three hostages held for years by Marxist rebels, but they were unlikely to be freed until the weekend.
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PARIS: France has pledged not to yield to Iraqi kidnappers who have taken two journalists hostage and are demanding the repeal of a law banning Islamic headscarves in state schools.
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An armed gang flees with hostages after freeing 30 people held for more than a day at a bank in Venezuela.
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Colombia on Saturday refused to pull back troops to create a safe zone for talks aimed at freeing rebel hostages including former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, rejecting a proposal from Venezuela.
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Before the hostages were released, the fighters inside rebuffed several offers, including safe passage out of the city.
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Colombian rebels insist they will not free any hostages despite government plans to release jailed rebels.
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Seven hostages held by Colombian rebels for as long as nine years appealed in a video released on Tuesday for the government to reach a deal with their guerrilla captors to win their release.
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Venezuela has started a rescue operation in Colombia to secure the release of two hostages held by leftist rebels, an official said on Thursday, after a similar effort led by President Hugo Chavez collapsed last year.
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While the US, Britain and Italy, whose citizens have been taken hostage, have refused to concede demands of hostage-takers, militant groups have sent out clear signals that they, too, mean business.
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BAGHDAD, Sept. 23. - Authorities insisted they wonât give in to militantsâ demands to free women Iraqi prisoners despite the broadcast of a videotape that showed a tearful British hostage begging Britain to save his life.
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The British and Iraqi governments said  they would not bow to the demands of militants threatening to  kill a British hostage, despite tearful pleas from the captive  and his family.
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VILLAVICENCIO, Colombia  - A Venezuelan mission to pick up three hostages held for years by Colombian rebels in jungle camps was delayed again on Saturday because guerrilla leaders have not given the final go-ahead.
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BELFAST, Northern Ireland - The Irish Republican Army denied involvement Thursday in this week&#39;s massive robbery of the Northern Bank in Belfast.
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&gt; BAGHDAD, Iraq - Authorities insisted on Thursday that they won&#39;t give in to militants&#39; demands to free female Iraqi prisoners despite the plea of a tearful British hostage
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Venezuela's leftist leader is now working to release the 45 hostages, including three Americans, held in Colombia.