By VOA News
19 June 2007
Rodrigo Granda of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC,
went to Cuba Monday, accompanied by a Catholic priest. Granda says he
is visiting Cuba for a medical checkup.
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe freed the rebel two weeks ago at the
request of French President Nicolas Sarkozy. The French leader has
expressed hope Granda could help facilitate the release of a
French-Colombian politician, Ingrid Betancourt, who was kidnapped by
FARC rebels in 2002.
FARC is also holding three U.S. citizens.
Granda has downplayed hopes he will use his trip to Cuba to try to
secure the release of the hostages.
He says hostages will only be freed if the government meets FARC's
long-standing demands for a demilitarized zone in Colombia and the
release of two rebels held in U.S. jails.
President Uribe has rejected demands for a rebel safe haven.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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