Brazilian helicopters arrive for Colombia hostages

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Reuters

Brazilian helicopters arrive for Colombia hostages
Reuters
Saturday, March 27, 2010; 3:59 PM

VILLAVICENCIO, Colombia (Reuters) - Two Brazilian helicopters arrived in Colombia Saturday in the first stage of a mission to pick up two hostage soldiers who FARC guerrillas plan to hand over next week.

The FARC, or Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, will release two of the 24 police and soldiers it holds to leftist Senator Piedad Cordoba and a Red Cross team who will fly into the country's southern jungles Sunday and again Tuesday.

Pablo Emilio Moncayo, held for more than 12 years, and Josue Daniel Calvo were to be freed a year ago, but the handover was delayed as rebels and President Alvaro Uribe's government disagreed over conditions for their release.

"We'll set off around 7 a.m. tomorrow to the handover point," Cordoba told reporters.

Calvo is set to be released Sunday and Moncayo on Tuesday.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/27/AR2010032702022.html

[Judi Lynn]

1. Colombian rebel captives' release seems imminent

Colombian rebel captives' release seems imminent
The Associated Press
Saturday, March 27, 2010; 5:13 PM

VILLAVICENCIO, Colombia -- The release of two soldiers held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia appears imminent nearly a year after the rebels first announced it.

Two loaned Brazilian helicopters with Red Cross logos arrived Saturday in the eastern city of Villavicencio. They are to pick up the ailing 23-year-old Pvt. Josue Calvo on Sunday. Calvo has been a captive for a year.

Sgt. Pablo Emilio Moncayo is to be freed separately in the coming days. He has been held for 12 years.

Leading the mission is opposition Sen. Piedad Cordoba, to whom the FARC gave pickup coordinates.

Colombia's military has agreed to halt operations in the handover zones.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/27/AR2010032702189.html