Mission under way to recover FARC hostages

Updated: 20:37, Tuesday, 1 January 2008

A mission to recover three people held hostage by rebels in the Colombian jungle has begun.

1 of 1Hugo Chavez - Organising recovery mission
Hugo Chavez - Organising recovery mission

Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez said the first phase of an operation to collect two women and a young boy, who was born in captivity, was under way and would be completed over the weekend.

FARC rebels have described the release of the three hostages as a humanitarian gesture.

They are among some 45 high-profile captives, who the group wants to swap for around 500 guerrillas imprisoned by the Colombian authorities.

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