Chavez pledges to help kidnapped U.S. contractors

“We're at their service” said Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez yesterday as he promised to help free three U.S. contractors held hostage by Colombian guerillas. Chavez remarks came a day after meeting with ex-U.N. ambassador Bill Richardson who traveled to Caracas on behalf of the hostages' families.

After returning to New Mexico, Richardosn expressed hope that Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell could eventually be freed after spending five years in captivity:

"This is a very difficult negotiation because you're dealing with a rebel group that's out in the jungle," the governor told a brief news conference Sunday on his return to New Mexico. "You don't know where they are. You don't know what they want"…

Richardson said he will put forward a proposal for the release of the trio in the coming weeks and that Chavez is willing to work with him as a "primary mediator." Chavez confirmed his willingness to help.

Meanwhile, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner is expected to meet with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe today and with Chavez on Wednesday in order to urge for the release of Ingrid Betancourt.

Sources- Reuters, International Herald Tribune, Associated Press, The Latin Americanist

Image- CBS News