Ecuador president suggests Colombia wanted to prevent hostage release

[Judi Lynn]

Source: International Herald Tribune/Associated Press

Ecuador president suggests Colombia wanted to prevent hostage release
The Associated Press
Published: March 5, 2008

BRASILIA, Brazil: Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa suggested Tuesday that a Colombian raid against guerrillas hiding in Ecuadorean territory was carried out to prevent the liberation of rebel-held hostages.

Correa offered no proof to back up the claim, but said he agreed with speculation that Colombian authorities targeted top FARC leader Raul Reyes "and killed him to prevent a deal for the liberation of the hostages from going forward."

Reyes was the key broker in a deal being negotiated by Ecuador to help release the hostages in March, Correa said after arriving in Brazil on a multination tour to win support for the condemnation of Colombian President Alvaro Uribe. His first stop was Peru.

Earlier, Correa had said his government was working to negotiate the freedom of 12 high-profile hostages.



Read more: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/03/05/america/LA-GEN-Ecuador-Colombia.php

[Judi Lynn]

1. France says Colombia knew it was in contact with slain rebel leader Reyes

France says Colombia knew it was in contact with slain rebel leader Reyes
The Associated Press
Published: March 4, 2008

PARIS: France had been communicating with FARC rebel leader Raul Reyes before he was killed in a strike by Colombian security forces, and Colombia's government knew about the contacts, a French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said Tuesday.

France, Spain and Switzerland have been working to secure the liberation of hostages held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, including the politician Ingrid Betancourt, who holds dual French-Colombian nationality.

"In the framework of the efforts that we — Spain, Switzerland, France — were making, we had contacts with Raul Reyes, and I can tell you that the Colombians were aware of it," French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Pascale Andreani said at a news briefing. She said "many contacts" had taken place with Reyes — either directly or indirectly — until his death.

Colombian security forces killed Reyes, the No. 2 commander of Colombia's main guerrilla group, in a strike Saturday on Ecuadorean soil. Reyes was the public face of the FARC as the group's spokesman.

Herve Marro, spokesman for the Support Committee for Ingrid Betancourt, said the group was "obviously extremely disappointed and disillusioned" by the loss of a mediator.

More:
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/03/04/europe/EU-GEN-France-Colombia.php

[acmavm]

2. Maybe someone can find some laptops with incrimination 'evidence' on

them against France, Spain, and Switzerland.

[bemildred]

3. You think? nt

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

4. Absence of excrement, Mr. Holmes. -nt