Colombian rebels free four kidnapped geologists

Bogota, May 3: Colombian leftist guerrillas have released four local geologists who were kidnapped more than six weeks ago while prospecting for gold in a remote jungle region, the Red Cross said.

The four were among nine workers taken on March 13 from a camp in the poor, banana-growing region of Choco by fighters from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC, the country's largest rebel group that often kidnaps for ransom and political leverage.

''In a rural area in northwestern Antioquia province, the FARC-EP handed over four more geologists,'' the relief organisation said in a statement yesterday.

Four of the nine were released after two weeks in captivity, leaving one man still to be freed.

Fighting and kidnapping from Colombia's four-decade-old guerrilla conflict have dropped sharply under President Alvaro Uribe who has led a US-backed campaign to combat rebels and disarm thousands of illegal paramilitaries who fought them.

Guerrillas and paramilitary gangs battle over routes in Choco to ship the cocaine that has fueled Colombia's violence.

The FARC is still holding hundreds of hostages, some kept for years in secret jungle camps, including former presidential candidate and French-Colombian citizen Ingrid Betancourt and three US defense contract workers snatched in 2003.

Uribe has ordered troops to hunt down rebels holding hostages, but says he is open to talks on exchanging kidnap victims for jailed rebels. But the government and guerrillas are deadlocked over a FARC demand he demilitarize two rural towns the size of New York City to help initiate talks.

Reuters>