Colombia starts rebel release to seek hostage deal
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Colombia took steps to free jailed rebel fighters on Friday, hoping to persuade guerrilla commanders to hand over hostages they have held for years, including a French-Colombian politician and three Americans.
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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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A Colombian guerrilla leader freed to broker the release of rebel-held hostages said on Tuesday an accord was essential, but insisted President Alvaro Uribe agree to a demilitarized zone as a condition for talks.
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CARACAS, Venezuela  - Venezuela said on Thursday  it was ready to arrest Colombian rebels found hiding in its  territory as Bogota and Caracas tried to end a stand-off over  the seizure of a Marxist guerrilla leader in Venezuela's  capital.
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Colombia admits paying bounty hunters to capture a rebel Farc leader on Venezuela's territory.
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Efforts at freeing hostages held by Colombian rebels were stalled over the weekend after a guerrilla leader said he would not attend talks in neighboring Venezuela aimed at clinching a prisoner exchange.
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If Colombia's leftist rebels safely deliver three hostages to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, the goodwill gesture will likely increase pressure for major government concessions to secure the release 44 other high-profile captives.
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Colombian rebels release a video of  seven hostages urging the government  to make a deal to free them.
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BOGOTA, Colombia  - Colombian Marxist rebels keptup pressure on the government to release imprisoned guerrillas,releasing a videotape of 12 former congressmen they kidnapped30 months ago and want to swap for their comrades.
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Venezuela says it has made progress on securing the release of three more Farc hostages in Colombia.
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Colombian rebels will hand over three hostages to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, including an aide to former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and the woman's young son, according to a statement released Tuesday.
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Colombia's leftist rebels said yesterday they would release three of the dozens of high-profile hostages they are holding as bargaining chips with the Colombian government
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BOGOTA, Colombia, June 5 -- President ÃÂlvaro Uribe has begun releasing dozens of Marxist rebels from jail in a bid to encourage the country's largest guerrilla group to liberate civilian hostages held in jungle camps, a risky move that has the support of Colombia's European allies.
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A Colombian rebel plan to hand over three ailing hostages to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and a Colombian senator is advancing although their release cannot be rushed, a top guerrilla leader said on Monday.
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Colombia ordered troops to surround jungle camps where rebels hold hundreds of kidnap victims in hopes of forcing their release despite concerns the move could endanger the lives of the hostages.
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BOGOTA, Colombia  - Colombian Marxist rebels kept  up pressure on the government to release imprisoned guerrillas,  releasing a videotape of 12 former congressmen they kidnapped  30 months ago and want to swap for their comrades.
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Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says Colombia's Farc rebels have said they are ready to release hostages.