In Colombia, four hostages were freed Wednesday after more than six years in rebel captivity. The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, released the hostages to Venezuelan officials. Freed hostage Luis Eladio Perez thanked the Venezuelan government.

Luis Eladio Perez: “I want to give President Hugo Chavez and all the Venezuelan people my most sincere thanks, who, with our Senator Piedad Cordoba, have been working for the FARC to understand and take these unilateral steps to free the people who have been subject to this torture for more than seven years in the Colombian jungle.”

Two FARC hostages were released last month in a deal also brokered by Venezuela.