Colombian Rebels Want Hostage Exchange

The Colombian rebel group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia wants to talk with representatives of the Roman Catholic Church regarding hostage exchange. The FARC kidnaps hundreds of people every year for randsom, and addtional people to be used as exchanges for jailed guerrillas. Catholic leaders in Colombia are promting talks between the government and a smaller rebel group, the National Liberation Army. The FARC contends that the hostages will not be released until the government releases jailed rebels. Talks have not yet begun and the two sides are far from agreement as of yet. http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/americas/10/19/colombia.rebels.ap/index.html