Although the U.S. government was supposed to have final say on any plan to rescue three U.S. contractors held by guerrillas, it was kept in the dark by the Colombian military until a week before the July 2 operation to lessen the chances the Bush administration would veto the effort, said a top official close to the operation. ...more

July 14, 2008

TAMPA - Three American hostages rescued from a Colombian leftist group talked today about seeing their families — and tasting freedom — for the first time in 5 1/2 years. ...more

July 7, 2008

The sensational rescue of 15 hostages from the grip of Latin America's largest rebel group has highlighted the severely diminished state of an organization that just six years ago threatened to overrun the Colombian government. ...more

July 6, 2008

BOGOTA, Colombia — The family of one of the hostages the Colombian military rescued from leftist rebels Wednesday says they're excited he's coming home. ...more

July 2, 2008

BOGOTA, Colombia — Colombia said its military rescued former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, three U.S. military contractors and 11 other hostages from leftist rebels on Wednesday. ...more

July 2, 2008