Colombian rebels turn over 8 to Red Cross

The International Red Cross says Colombian rebels have released eight people who were recently kidnapped. However the guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia still hold two others seized last week on a river in the northwestern province of Chico. Authorities identify them as children of a top provincial official and say the rebels are demanding an US$80,000 ransom for them. Some had feared that the military's July 2 rescue of 15 rebel-held hostages could have made the rebels mistrust the Red Cross because the rescuers posed as members of a fake aid group. The Red Cross says that Wednesday's release followed "confidential negotiations" and it reaffirmed its neutrality in Colombia's... [read full story]