Chavez plane plan gets green light from Colombia

Bogota: The Colombian government has given its backing to a proposal to send Venezuelan planes into the country to pick up hostages being held by rebel soldiers.

The plan was hatched by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez after the Farc rebels said they would free two hostages and a child, but only to Chavez.

The plane enterting Colombia will have to carry red cross markings.

The rebels have offered to free Clara Rojas, an aide to former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt.

Included amongst the people to be freed is Ms Rojas' young son Emmanuel, who is allegedly the son of a guerrilla fighter.