Colombia 'to release' Farc rebels

Ms Betancourt was abducted while running for president in 2002

Colombia's government will release a group of jailed left-wing guerrillas from the rebel Farc group, President Alvaro Uribe has announced.

Mr Uribe said the rebels would be released by 7 June "in the national interest", but gave no further details.

He is under pressure to free some of the 500 Farc prisoners in exchange for 56 hostages held by the rebels.

French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt and three US citizens are amongst the Farc hostages.

"By June 7 I will have to have freed some or all of the Farc. If it is not possible, I will transfer them to another place instead of a prison," Mr Uribe said on radio Caracol.

Legal solution

Mr Uribe has previously urged military action to free the hostages, but earlier this month he back-pedalled, ordering the government to find a legal way to release the prisoners.

He said the release of any prisoners would depend on the crimes they committed.

Critics of the plan say rebels and paramilitary members might escape justice.

Last week, Mr Uribe ordered the army to step up efforts to rescue Ms Betancourt, who was running for president in Colombia when she was abducted in 2002.

France has urged a negotiated solution, including a prisoner exchange.