Venezuela Wants Betancourt Release To Be Step Toward End of War

Venezuela's government said it wants the rescue of former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt to lead to an end to the war in its western neighbor. Venezuela reiterated its request for the release of all hostages held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, Latin America's biggest guerilla group, the Foreign Ministry said late yesterday. The comments, in a statement posted on the ministry's web site, were the government's first official response to Betancourt's release. Colombian troops yesterday freed a total of 15 hostages, some held by the FARC, as the group is known, for more than 10 years. The freed include three U.S. men. The FARC still holds more than 700 captives.