Colombian Interior Minister Carlos Holguin said Sunday that his government would facilitate the release of three sick former legislators held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
Holguin said that "it seems to us that the freeing of the hostages is more important than any other consideration, and I don't believe we will allow any problems to interfere with this."
On Saturday, FARC said in a statement that it planned to free Gloria Polanco, Luis Eladio Perez and Orlando Beltran because of health problems.
Perez, Polanco and Beltran were kidnapped in 2001.
FARC said the move was in recognition of the persistent efforts to seek a humanitarian agreement by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and left-wing Colombian senator Piedad Cordoba.
Holguin said as yet no contact had been made by the Venezuelan government or by Cordoba to discuss the proposal, which was the second such plan in recent months.
FARC, Colombia's largest rebel group, has called for intervention from Chavez, a potential cause of conflict for the Colombian government. Colombia-Venezuela relations have been difficult since November when Colombian President Alvaro Uribe sacked Chavez from his role as mediator with FARC, citing breaches of protocol.
On Jan. 10, FARC freed two hostages, Clara Rojas and Consuelo Gonzalez, saying it was compensation for the efforts that Chavez and Cordoba had made.
Uribe has repeatedly insisted that Colombia will defeat FARC militarily.
Source:Xinhua
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