U.S. legislators visiting Colombia willing to meet rebels (McGovern, Miller, Delahunt) [View All]

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Xinhua

U.S. legislators visiting Colombia willing to meet rebels


www.chinaview.cn 2008-01-15 10:50:46

BOGOTA, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Three visiting legislators from the U.S. Democratic Party told the media on Monday they would be willing to meet members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) to seek the release of three U.S. citizens kidnapped by the rebels.

James McGovern, George Miller and Bill Delahunt, who are set tomeet with Colombia's Defense Minister, said they are willing to undertake a humanitarian mission on behalf of the hostages if theyreceive authorization from Colombian President Alvaro Uribe.

"We are not interested in publicity nor in photographs. We want a humanitarian agreement under which people who have been held, in some cases for more than 10 years, can finally be reunited with their loved ones," McGovern said.

The FARC has held three U.S. citizens since 2003: Thomas Howes, Marc Gonsalvez and Keith Stansell. The FARC says the three were U.S. spies, while the U.S. says they were anti-drug contractors.

The U.S. legislators said they had come to Colombia to find out about the process which ended with the release of Clara Rojas and Consuelo Gonzalez.




Read more: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/15/content_7424727.htm