US Hostages' Families Turn to Chavez

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Relatives of three U.S. contractors kidnapped more than four years ago by Colombian rebels turned to the government of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Wednesday for help in securing their release.

The three Americans could be included in a possible swap of imprisoned rebels for hostages, said Lynn Stansell, who met with Venezuela's ambassador to Washington, Bernardo Alvarez Herrera.

Her son Keith was grabbed in 2003 by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, also known as the FARC, along with fellow U.S. contractors Marc Gonsalves and Thomas Howes when their plane crashed during an anti-drug mission.

''This is the most hopeful event we have had in four and a half years,'' Stansell said. ''We've not seen or communicated with our son in that time.''

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-US-Colombia-Hostages.html?_r=1&oref=slogin