BBC News

Colombia hostage videos broadcast

Sept 08--Colombian television has broadcast footage of 10 soldiers and policemen held captive by left-wing Farc rebels for at least 10 years.

8 de septiembre de 2009

In the videos, the men are seen bound around the neck by chains as they speak directly to their families and make an appeal for their release.

The videos are the third set to emerge in recent weeks.

The Farc want to swap hostages in turn for imprisoned rebels, a move President Alvaro Uribe has rejected.

The videos, each lasting about 90 seconds, show the four soldiers and six police officers sitting in front of a cloth designed to disguise their location, with a chain padlocked around their necks.

The hostages, kidnapped in 1998 and 1999, look tired and haggard.

"Thank you to all Colombians for your support - all those working to secure our release as soon as possible," says Sgt Robinson Salcedo Guarin.

"I'm in good health," says police officer Jorge Trujillo, who also urges his mother not to cry when she sends messages to him via Colombian radio stations.

Mr Trujillo rocks back and forth and he appears disoriented in the footage.
 
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