Colombia: Hostage flees with rebel captor

Colombian hostage Oscar Tulio Lizcano (image) was found by an army battalion on Sunday after he and one of his rebel captors wandered through the jungle for three days. Both grew weary of the harsh conditions they had to put up with, especially the infirm Lizcano. "I put sticks in the ground... and gave them names and taught them classes, two or three hours a day in classes, imagining I was in a classroom", said Lizcano who had been held hostage for over eight years.

The guerilla who accompanied Lizcano on his trek to freedom- alias "Isaza"- has been offered asylum in France and possible immunity for his crimes. "Isaza" spoke at a press conference earlier today:

On Saturday we walked together yet I had to carry him because his feet were too swollen and he could barely walk…We were tired and hungry during those three days. But we had to move forward because when you desert the FARC there are only two options: flee or die. – [ed. Personal translation]

Meanwhile, a FARC communiqué written on October 16th and published today proposed a humanitarian exchange via the multilateral efforts of Latin American presidents.

Image- Times Online
Sources (English)- Reuters Africa, BBC News, AP
Sources (Spanish)- El Tiempo, El Espectador