Rebels Hijack Colombian Plane, Kidnap Senator

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, February 21, 2002

Rebels Hijack Colombian Plane, Kidnap Senator

Armed rebels hijacked a commercial airliner and forced its crew to land on a highway in southern Colombia on Wednesday, the local Caracol radio station reported.

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Armed rebels hijacked a commercial airliner and forced its crew to land on a highway in southern Colombia on Wednesday, the local Caracol radio station reported.

The Colombian-owned airliner, which was traveling between Neivaand Bogota with 35 passengers including opposition Senator Jorge Eduardo Gechem on board, was forced to land near the town of Hobo in Huila province.

The hijackers took Gechem, of the Liberal Party, his son and another person traveling with the senator as hostages. The remainder were released.

Martin Gonzalez, spokesman for the civil aviation authority, said the plane was hijacked soon after taking off from Neiva, capital of Huila province.

Although nobody has claimed responsibility for the hijacking sofar, the military blames the rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the largest guerrilla group in the country, for the hijacking.

Nevertheless, the 16,500-strong FARC, which has been engaged inan on-again-off again peace talks with the government of PresidentAndres Pastrana for three years, made no response.

Analysts said Wednesday's hijacking could jeopardize the already flagging peace process between the Colombian government and the guerrilla group.

Ecuardo Verano, Secretary-General of the Liberal Party, condemned the hijacking and demanded the immediate release of the hostages.

The Colombian government convened an urgent meeting after the hijacking.

Neiva is close to a southern rebel stronghold that President Andres Pastrana's government ceded to FARC as part of peace negotiations which began three years ago.

FARC rebels have hijacked airlines several times in the past few years.

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