Relatives of rebel-held hostages discuss Colombia with Venezuela's Chavez

Source: Associated Press

Relatives of rebel-held hostages discuss Colombia with Venezuela's Chavez
By Christopher Toothaker
ASSOCIATED PRESS
7:47 p.m. January 18, 2008

CARACAS, Venezuela – Relatives of hostages held by Colombia's largest rebel group sought assistance Friday from Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who helped secure the release of two captives last week.

Jaime Felipe Lozada, whose mother is among dozens of high-profile hostages held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, called Chavez's efforts “a big door that has opened for us, a door we must continue pushing open.”

Many hostages' families see Chavez as their best hope for a prisoner swap, but deteriorating diplomatic relations between Colombia's U.S.-allied government and Venezuela could undermine his efforts.

Relatives of the captives brought the socialist leader a sealed letter from their loved ones, carried out of the jungle by the two recently freed hostages, said Deyanira Ortiz, whose husband Orlando Beltran has been held for about seven years.

“Our relatives are living in very precarious situations,” she said.




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