US mistrial for Colombian rebel

Mr Palmera has admitted working as a negotiator for Farc

A US judge has declared a mistrial in the case of Colombian rebel leader Ricardo Palmera, after a jury could not agree on a verdict.

The Farc rebel leader was facing four charges of terrorism and hostage-taking over the kidnapping of three US contractors in Colombia in 2003.

Sent to the US in 2004, Palmera is the most senior Farc rebel yet tried there.

On Monday, Palmera was found guilty of plotting to capture the Americans, who are still being held in a jungle camp.

Sentence deal

The US Justice Department has offered Palmera a lighter sentence on Monday's conviction of conspiracy to commit hostage taking if the three Americans are released unharmed.

Our priority has always been the release of the hostages Assistant US Attorney Kenneth C Kohl

Palmera, known by his nom de guerre as Simon Trinidad, faces up to 30 years in prison for that conviction.

But the jury was unable to reach a decision on the remaining four charges against Palmera on Tuesday, including direct involvement in the abduction and providing material support to terrorists.

Palmera has admitted working as a negotiator for Farc, but denies meeting the Americans or holding them hostage.

"Our priority has always been the release of the hostages," Assistant US Attorney Kenneth C Kohl said.

"If they were released, say, next week, we would take that into consideration."

The US government contractors - Thomas Howes, Keith Stansell and Marc Gonsalves - were taken by Farc after their aircraft crashed in the jungle during a mission to find illegal drug crops in 2003.

They are still thought to be held by Farc in south-eastern Colombia.

The left-wing rebel group has been fighting the Colombian government for more than four decades.

Palmera's first US trial over the hostage-taking ended in a mistrial in November 2006 after the jury could not agree on a verdict.

He was captured in Ecuador and later extradited to the US in late 2004 by Colombia.

When this case is complete he will face another trial on drug-trafficking charges later this year.

He has already been convicted by a Colombian court of kidnapping and rebellion and sentenced to 35 years in jail.