US seeks Farc rebels' extradition

Colombia has promised to respond swiftly to an extradition request

The US is to ask Colombia to extradite two Farc rebels captured during last week's rescue of 15 hostages, among them three Americans, officials say.

The head of Colombia's military, Gen Freddy Padilla, said the government would support such a request.

The rebels are accused of belonging to a terrorist group and kidnapping.

The Colombian government has meanwhile indicated it is ready for direct contact with the rebels to seek the freedom of scores of other hostages.

The two Farc guerrillas were detained during the 2 July operation that freed the hostages.

They are Gerardo Antonio Aguilar Ramirez, alias Cesar, and Alexander Farfan Suarez, known as Enrique Gafas.

They face charges of belonging to a terrorist group and holding hostages, among them US defence contractors Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell who were captured in 2003 after their plane crashed in the Colombian jungle.

The other freed hostages included French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt and 11 soldiers.

Contacts

Gen Padilla told reporters that Colombia would act quickly upon formal receipt of a US extradition request.

The three Americas were held for nearly five years

Colombia's peace commissioner has said that the government is set to move forward with steps to seek direct contacts with the Farc in the wake of the hostages' rescue.

"The decision that we have made, following the liberation of Ingrid, the three Americans and the members of our security forces, is to put efforts in motion to make direct contact," said Luis Carlos Restrepo.

Mr Restrepo also indicated that the government no longer had complete confidence in two envoys from France and Switzerland, who have been trying to broker an accord leading to the release of high-profile hostages.

"We believe we have to re-evaluate. There are problems with some of the present facilitators," Mr Restrepo said.

"We have the Farc fractured and we would prefer direct contact, among other things, to talk about peace."

The government's announcement followed the emergence of a communique said to be from the Farc's new leader, Alfonso Cano, in which he indicated the group was still ready for contacts with the government.

The letter was signed in June, before the military operation that led to the rescue of the 15 hostages.