Colombia

Military releases video of Farc-held hostages

Article published on the 2009-09-08 Latest update 2009-09-09 07:58 TU

Farc hostage Police Sergeant Beltran in one of the videos presented by the Colombian military
(Photo: Reuters)

The Colombian military has released video footage of ten soldiers and policemen being held hostage by left-wing rebels in the jungle. The hostages have been held for more than a decade.

The hostages are seen in the videos, which were shown to the press on Monday, with chains around their necks reading messages to their families and appealing for their release.

"Our situation is difficult and we need to get out as quickly as possible," says Police Sergeant Jose Libardo Forero.

The ten hostages were abducted by Farc (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) rebels between August 1998 and July 1999.

Colombian army chief of staff General Oscar Gomez said the videos showed the "inhumane conditions" in which the hostages are kept, while Vice President Francisco Santos described captives as living "like animals."

Farc, which has been battling the government in Bogota for 45 years, holds 22 police officers and soldiers as hostages and wants to exchange some for its own jailed members.