The rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) on Thursday handed over life evidence of several hostages held in Colombia's jungle to rescue officials during its release of two hostages.
The leftist rebel group allowed eight hostages to send life evidence to their families during the handover of former legislator Consuelo Gonzalez and former vice-presidential candidate Clara de Rojas, Rojas told reporters after arrival in Venezuela.
The evidence was handed over to Colombian and Venezuelan officials, including Colombia's former negotiator Piedad Cordoba, Venezuelan Interior Minister Ramon Rodriguez and International Red Cross representatives.
"The people we were with were authorized to send life evidence, and they were handed over to the spokesman of President Hugo Chavez; it is the evidence of eight people," Rojas said.
Cordoba said she asked FARC to release more hostages during the handover. She did not say what kind of life evidence was received this time.
The Colombian government discovered some life evidence during a November operation, including video footage, photos and letters.
Currently, at least 700 people remain in FARC captivity, and 50of them are "interchangeable" politicians, military and police chiefs and three citizens of the United States.
FARC is holding the high-profile hostages hoping to swap them for hundreds of jailed rebels.
The 17,000-strong FARC, Colombia's main guerrilla group, uses kidnapping as a tool to raise money and exert pressures on the government. Some hostages have endured a decade in FARC captivity.
Source:Xinhua
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