Hugo Chavez blasts FARC for holding civilians, saying it "doesn't make sense" to detain people who have nothing to do with rebels' war.
Venezuelan President urged the leader of Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) Saturday to free all civilian hostages, including former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt. "If I were a guerrilla, I wouldn't have the need to hold a woman, a man who aren't soldiers," Chavez said at a Caracas gathering which was participated by Betancourt's mother, Yolanda Pulecio. "First, free the civilians who don't have anything to do with the war. I don't agree with that," he added, according to AP.
Betancourt, a dual French-Colombian citizen, was kidnapped six years ago while campaigning for Colombia's presidency. The mission by a French medical team to give ailing Betancourt medical aid and seek her freedom failed last week.
Chavez who has mediated the release of six FARC hostages says he has no way of reaching the rebel group following the Colombian incursion of Ecuador last month which killed the FARC second-in-command, Raul Reyes. |