Hostages reunited with families
- 12 years ago
EDIT CONTAINS 4:3 MATERIAL
Hostages held by the FARC rebels arrived in Villavicencio, Colombia on Monday-- freed after years of imprisonment.
Red Cross workers escorted the 10 military hostages to buses where they greeted family members.
The release was made possible in part after negotiations by former senator Piedad Cordoba.
(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FORMER COLOMBIAN SENATOR, PIEDAD CORDOBA, SAYING:
"We can say that we achieved this because we did it through dialogue, and we achieved it without a drop of blood being spilled, and we achieved it with respect and because we recognised one another. And above all, we achieve it through knowing that what Colombia wants is peace and no more bloodshed."
Officials say the release could signal that the FARC is willing to end it's decades old insurgency.
But many remain skeptical that the group, which is still believed to be holding as many as 700 civilians, will lay down its weapons anytime soon.
Julie Noce, Reuters
Hostages held by the FARC rebels arrived in Villavicencio, Colombia on Monday-- freed after years of imprisonment.
Red Cross workers escorted the 10 military hostages to buses where they greeted family members.
The release was made possible in part after negotiations by former senator Piedad Cordoba.
(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FORMER COLOMBIAN SENATOR, PIEDAD CORDOBA, SAYING:
"We can say that we achieved this because we did it through dialogue, and we achieved it without a drop of blood being spilled, and we achieved it with respect and because we recognised one another. And above all, we achieve it through knowing that what Colombia wants is peace and no more bloodshed."
Officials say the release could signal that the FARC is willing to end it's decades old insurgency.
But many remain skeptical that the group, which is still believed to be holding as many as 700 civilians, will lay down its weapons anytime soon.
Julie Noce, Reuters