Colombia rebel chief freed from jail

A Colombian guerrilla leader has been released from prison on parole after serving just nine years of a 20-year sentence, following a judge's decision to shorten his jail term for good behaviour.

Carlos Arturo Velandia, who renamed himself Felipe Torres, is a former commander in the second-largest rebel group in Colombia, the ELN, or National Liberation Army.

He left the Itagui high-security prison near Medellin, where he had served the main part of his time in custody since being jailed in June 1994 for rebellion and terrorism.

The order to grant him conditional liberty comes after the ELN called for its jailed comrades to be freed, in exchange for the release of seven foreign tourists that the rebel group is holding hostage.

However, judicial authorities said Torres had been released as a result of a transparent legal process.

Deal offered

On Tuesday, the ELN made its first statement on the conditions for the release of the tourists - a Briton, Mark Henderson from North Yorkshire, a German, a Spaniard and four Israelis.

The guerrilla group said the seven were being investigated to ensure they were not intelligence operatives or military spies, but that it would be prepared to release them now in exchange for rebels held in prison.

HOSTAGES HELD Briton: Mark Henderson German: Reinhilt Weigel Israelis: Beni Daniel, Ortaz Ohayon, Ido Joseph Guy, Erez Altawil Spaniard: Asier Huegun

The group was kidnapped as they hiked in the mountains of the Sierra Nevada more than three weeks ago.

Another Briton seized at the time managed to escape and make his way to safety.

Three Catholic priests are making their way up to the mountains of the Sierra Nevada to meet ELN guerrillas and visit the kidnapped tourists.

The priests are hoping to persuade the rebels to release the hostages without any conditions.