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    November 30, 2011

FARC Blames Colombian Government for Death of 4 Hostages

   VOA News
   Colombian honor guards carry the coffins of four members of the
   security forces during their funeral at Bogota's cathedral, November
   29, 2011. Photo: Reuters
   Colombian honor guards carry the coffins of four members of the
   security forces during their funeral at Bogota's cathedral, November
   29, 2011.

   Colombia's main rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of
   Colombia, known as FARC, is blaming the government for the deaths of
   four security force members held captive by the guerrillas for more
   than a decade.
   A FARC statement Tuesday claims the four men were among a group of
   hostages the guerrillas had planned to release soon as a goodwill
   gesture. The FARC says the captives were instead killed during a
   military mission aimed at preventing the group from carrying out the
   release.
   Colombia's government said Saturday that the FARC executed the three
   policemen and one soldier when the military arrived to try to free
   them.
   A fifth hostage ran into the woods and was rescued by soldiers.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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