Chavez says he'll oversee release of 3 held by Colombian rebels

HAVANA, Cuba (CNN) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez confirmed Saturday that he plans to witness the release of three hostages held for years by the Colombian left-wing guerrilla group FARC.

While attending a regional oil summit in Cuba, Chavez told Cubavision television that he has orchestrated a "delicate" operation set to take place in the next few days.

"Before I even got here, I've already made elaborate plans on how to handle this very delicate operation," he said.

"There are some armed groups in the vicinity, some associated with the government or even part of the government, who would like to block the liberation of these hostages."

On Tuesday, the Colombian rebels said three captives they have held could be freed by the end of the year, including an aide to Colombian Sen. Ingrid Betancourt and the woman's 3-year-old son, according to a statement.

CNN obtained their statement from La Prensa, a newspaper in Managua, Nicaragua.

Betancourt was kidnapped in 2002 along with her campaign manager, Clara Rojas, when she ran for the Colombian presidency. The senator was not among the hostages mentioned by members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC.

The hostages believed to be in line for release are Rojas, her son, Emmanuel, and former Colombian congresswoman Consuelo Gonzalez. Emmanuel was born roughly two years after his mother was taken captive.

FARC made several demands in conjunction with the announcement about the three hostages, including demilitarizing Colombia's municipalities of Florida and Pradera for 45 days in order to negotiate what it called a humanitarian accord.

The handover could prove problematic, however, in light of bad blood between Colombian President Alvaro Uribe and Chavez.

Uribe had asked Chavez to help secure the release of the hostages, hundreds of which are held by FARC and the National Liberation Army (ELN). But last month, Uribe effectively fired Chavez, saying he broke protocol by communicating directly with his top general.

Chavez has since called Uribe a "liar" and said that FARC was ready to release prisoners, but that Uribe's interference stalled those plans.

He said Saturday the Colombian government "has shown unwillingness to help our humanitarian efforts" in regard to the release.

Speaking from the Cuban city of Cienfuegas, Chavez said he will press ahead in negotiating the release of hostages held by FARC.

"We will keep pressing, but it all depends on the Colombian government's good will," he said.

The move by FARC is seen as an effort to get Chavez back on board as a mediator -- as the Venezuelan president is more sympathetic to the rebels than Uribe's government -- and a positive public relations move during the holidays.

Earlier this month, French President Nicolas Sarkozy appealed to FARC to release Betancourt, who also holds French citizenship. She has become a cause celebre in France. E-mail to a friend

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