Colombian rebels won't accept Red Cross visit

0 Comments | AFP, January, 2008

BOGOTA (AFP) — The largest Colombian guerrilla group said Sunday it will not accept a visit by the Red Cross to examine the state of health of hostages the organization is holding.

"For us the security of hostages that could be subject to an exchange comes first," Raul Reyes, spokesman for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), told local television.

The statement came in response to a proposal made by Colombian President Alvaro Uribe last week, when he said that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) should be given an opportunity to visit the hostages to assess their health.

The FARC wants to swap 44 of its most high-profile hostages, including French-Colombian Ingrid Betancourt and three Americans, for 500 rebels held in Colombian...