Chavez steps into Colombian hostage fray

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Better known for his trademark anti-US tirades, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez takes on a more delicate role as he tries to broker a deal to free hostages held by Colombia's Marxist guerillas.

Chavez steps into a bitter deadlock between President Alvaro Uribe, a US ally popular for his hardline stance against rebels, and Latin America's oldest guerilla group resisting attempts to end 40 years of conflict.

At stake in the talks in Bogota is the freedom of hundreds of kidnap victims wasting away in rebel jungle camps, including French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt snatched in 2002 and three US contract workers captured a year later.

Chavez's leftist credentials, strong ties to Cuba and growing regional influence have stirred hope for families of victims he can give the talks initiative a new jolt.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Chavez-steps-into-Colombian-hostage-fray/2007/08/31/1188067352311.html