FARC: Relatives of hostages have been awaiting news in Caracas ... one more hostage promised

Caracas Daily Journal (Vincent Bevins): The wife of another Colombian ex-congressperson has reported she received a call from Piedad Córdoba announcing that they would be released in the next few days. The Colombian government announced that it had been monitoring communications of the captor of Ingrid Betancourt since 2005, and Zulia mayor and opposition leader Manuel Rosales denounced the supposed existence of guerrillas in his state.

"I have just received a call from Senator Córdoba, in which she told me that I can announce that Jorge Eduardo will be freed very soon and that I should wait for news in the coming days," said Lucy de Gechen, wife of ex-congressman Jorge Eduardo Gechen.

According to his wife, Córdoba called her from Caracas and told her that on Thursday she would go to Colombia to meet with her personally. "As soon as I am authorized by the Venezuelan government we will be travelling (to Caracas) with the family" to await the handover of her husband, she added.

The release of Gechem would be added to the already-promsied ex-congresspersons Gloria Polanco, Luis Eladio Pérez y Orlando Beltrán, whose relatives have been in Caracas awaiting their release. This would be in addition to the unilateral release of Clara Rojas and Consuelo Gonzales de Perdomo on January 10th, which was offered as an "apology" for the cancellation of negotiations by Uribe.

The Colombian government has announced that they have been intercepting communications from the FARC leader that has been watching over high-profile French-Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt since 2005. According to authorities, Gerardo Antonio Aguilar, alias "Caesar," also watches over the American hostages, has had some of his telephone conversations taped, with the help of the CIA.

• These recordings allowed them to get more information about the hostages, they said, as well as to locate a network that supplied the FARC. They said they captured 39 of its members earlier this year.

It is unclear why they have chosen to make this announcement now, or if this would compromise further monitoring if it is still possible.

Meanwhile Zulia Mayor and opposition leader Manuel Rosales continues to use his position to attack Chávez and affirm controversial claims that the FARC operates in his state. Chávez denies this, and says that much trouble can be attributed to Colombian ex-paramilitary groups sent into the border region by Colombia and the United States.

Rosales accused military groups of training the underworld in the border that someone is protecting them from persecution of crimes. This is approximately the exact opposite of statements Chávez made last week. Colombian authorities announced Tuesday that Fidel's resignation would not effect support for peace processes received from Cuba.