'First steps' taken to release hostages

Barinas, Venezuela: President Hugo Chavez said on Saturday that Venezuelan authorities have taken "the first steps" towards the release of three ailing hostages held by Colombian rebels for more than six years.

"We have already made contact" with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, Chavez told reporters in the southeastern city of Barinas. "The first steps on this path have been taken."

Chavez urged "calm and patience," saying "there's no time limit" for the release of Gloria Polanco, Luis Eladio Perez and Orlando Beltran, who were kidnapped in 2001.

Chavez met later with relatives of the hostages, who turned to the Venezuelan leader for help in facilitating the release. Venezuelan state television broadcast live images of the president speaking to the families at the state governor's office in Barinas.

"The information we have is that they are in good condition," Chavez said.

The force known as the Farc - Colombia's largest rebel group - announced plans to release the captives in a communique on January 31, saying its decision stemmed from efforts by Chavez and "other friendly governments" to seek a solution to Colombia's decades-long conflict.

Optimistic

Perez's son Sergio told reporters on Friday that he and other relatives were optimistic.

"We are hoping that everything will turn out the best way possible," he said.

Chavez - who describes himself as a "revolutionary" - has hailed the Farc's announcement as a demonstration the guerrillas are willing to negotiate an exchange of other hostages for imprisoned rebels. The Farc wants to exchange more than 40 high-value hostages - including former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and three US defence contractors - for hundreds of imprisoned rebels.

"What happiness I felt when I read the Farc's statement," Chavez said to the relatives at Saturday's meeting. "Despite the pain, you did not give up," he told them. The government of Colombia's US-backed president, Alvaro Uribe, has also welcomed the Farc's gesture, announcing that Colombian officials would cooperate with Venezuela to facilitate the release.