FARC releases another hostage

There have been emotional scenes in Colombia with the release of another hostage held for nearly seven years by FARC rebels. Former lawmaker Sigifredo Lopez was greeted by his two sons in the city of Cali, in the last of three such handovers this week.

Lopez is calling on the government to accept a FARC offer for a prisoner swap. He said: “Mr President, we need t omake the exchange now, and not put obstacles on this. There’s already been too much suffering and pain. Eleven politicians kidnapped along with Lopez were killed in 2007. They were captured by rebels posing as soldiers at the Cali regional assembly in 2002. Lopez said: “I’ve not been able to forgive them for what they did to my comrades.” The latest releases have raised speculation that FARC is trying to gain political ground in the wake of serious military setbacks.

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