Chavez 'begins hostage mission'
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Venezuela's Hugo Chavez sends helicopters to Colombia to pick up three hostages to be freed by Farc rebels.
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Venezuela says it is investigating claims that a Colombia rebel leader was seized on its territory.
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A deal brokered by Venezuelan President Hugo ChÃ¡vez could pave the way for the liberation of dozens of others being held in rebel camps.
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Venezuelan troops have seized an anti-government television channel's broadcast equipment, the station said on Sunday, ahead of a controversial midnight EDT/0400 GMT takeover by President Hugo Chavez that will take the broadcaster off the air.
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President Hugo Chavez, who has repeatedly spoken of various plots on his life, said Saturday a sniper with a long-range gun and a motorcycle to escape on had planned to shoot him as he exited a helicopter on a recent trip to western Venezuela.
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ALTAGRACIA DE ORITUCO, Venezuela  - Venezuelan bank robbers with pistols and a hand-grenade agreed to give up most of their hostages on Tuesday and drive away from a two-day-old siege in an ambulance with a few captives, officials said.
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President Hugo Chavez ordered by decree on Monday the takeover of oil projects operated by foreign oil companies in Venezuela's Orinoco River region.
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Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says Colombia's Farc rebels have said they are ready to release hostages.
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Helicopters sent by Venezuela's president picked up two hostages freed by Colombian rebels in the jungle Thursday and flew the women across the border in a mission that could open a new path to freedom for dozens of captives.
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Two helicopters sent by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez landed in Colombia Friday on a delicate mission to pluck three hostages from the rebel-held jungle.
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A Venezuelan operation to collect three hostages due to be freed in Colombia by Farc rebels is delayed.
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Colombia agreed on Wednesday to allow Venezuelan aircraft to land in the country and pick up three hostages held by Marxist rebels, a breakthrough that could lead to the captives' quick release.
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Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez urged his antagonist U.S. President George W. Bush to help him secure the release of hostages, including three Americans, held by Colombia's FARC rebels.
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Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's political backing for Colombia's Marxist guerrillas will make it harder to secure a deal to release dozens of hostages held by rebel leaders, the Colombian government said.
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Colombia agreed on Wednesday to allow Venezuelan aircraft to land in the country and pick up three hostages held by Marxist rebels, a breakthrough that could win the captives' quick release.
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Better known for his trademark anti-U.S. tirades, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez takes on a more delicate role on Friday when he tries to broker a deal to free hostages held by Colombia's Marxist guerrillas.
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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.