Chavez gets one over rival as hostages set for release

VENEZUELAN President Hugo Chavez is prepared to send planes and helicopters into neighbouring Colombia to pick up three hostages who have been held for years by leftist rebels.

The hostages’ release would be the most important in the Colombian conflict since 2001, when Colombia’s largest rebel group freed 300 soldiers and police officers it had captured and held.

Colombia’s largest rebel group announced last week that it would unilaterally hand over the three hostages to Mr Chavez, demonstrating the guerrillas’ affinity for the socialist leader.