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FARC to give up kidnapping

February 26, 2012

Colombian rebel group FARC has announced it is freeing the last remaining government and military captives. It has also sworn off the practice of kidnapping for good.

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Seven guerrilla members of the 30th front of the FARC
Image: AP

The leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as FARC, are to free the last 10 members of the government and military it says it has been holding captive for years. The government, however, insists the rebels are holding 12 hostages.

The country's main rebel group also said on Sunday that it will give up the practice of kidnapping, according to its website.

"We wish to announce that, in addition to our already announced plans to free six prisoners of war, we will free the four others who remain under our power," the group said in a statement published on its website.

FARC did not say, however that it is abandoning all hostilities.

The rebels announced on December 27 that they would free six captives, but a month later they delayed the release because of what they called a government "militarization" of the area where it said the release was planned.

Latin America's last major rebel movement was founded in 1964 and has between 8,000 and 11,000 active rebel fighters. They operate mainly around the borders to Venezuela and Ecuador. It has been releasing captives since early 2008.

Franco-Colombian former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt was one of the group's most famous hostages. She was released in July 2008 after six and a half years in captivity.

ng/pfd (AP, AFP, dpa)