Fidel Castro Calls On FARC To Free Hostages

[Jimmy2]

Fidel Castro Calls On FARC To Free Hostages

(RTTNews) - Cuba's former President Fidel Castro has called on Colombia's FARC rebels to release all of its remaining hostages unconditionally. In an Internet posting, he said he was against kidnapping and had in the past criticized the rebel's cruel methods of kidnapping and keeping prisoners in the jungle. But at the same time, he added the rebels should not lay down their weapons if they wanted to survive.

He said: "If I may dare to suggest something to the FARC guerrillas, it is that they simply, by whatever means at their disposal, declare that they have unconditionally freed all the hostages and prisoners still under their control."

FARC rebels were inspired by Fidel Castro's revolution in Cuba, when they formed in the 1960s. The rebels still holds about 700 hostages for political leverage or ransom, although it's most valuable captives were among the 15 rescued last week, including Ingrid Betancourt and three American defense contractors.

Meanwhile, in a broadcast through Colombian radio, Betancourt has sent a message to the remaining hostages, in which she said she is deeply concerned about their fate and will do everything she can to secure their release. She herself was freed on Wednesday after six years of captivity, in a rescue mission carried out by the Colombian army.