The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) on Monday postponed the release of the three hostages, saying intensified military operations endangered the lives of the hostages, the FARC said in a statement.
"To continue under these conditions would endanger the lives of the people to be released, the other prisoners of war and the guerrillas carrying out this mission," the statement said.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who is mediating the hostage release, said Monday that he received a letter from the FARC leadership, claiming that military operations by the government had impeded the hostage handover.
The three hostages are Consuelo Gonzalez, Clara Rojas and her four-year-old son Emmanuel.
Gonzalez, a former lawmaker, was kidnapped in 2001 and Rojas was abducted during her 2002 vice presidential campaign.
Only after the FARC found a safe place that ensures "security with complete certainty," could the group reactivate the mechanism to make the hostage release possible, the letter said.
Earlier this month, the FARC, Colombia's largest rebel group, promised to transfer the three to Chavez. Last Friday, the Venezuelan president sent two helicopters deep into Colombia to collect them.
Source: Xinhua
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