Colombian army frees police official after 11 years held hostage by FARC guerrillas
By APSunday, June 13, 2010
Colombian soldiers free long-held rebel hostage
BOGOTA, Colombia — Colombia’s president says soldiers have rescued a captive policeman who was one of the longest-held hostages by leftist guerrillas.
President Alvaro Uribe says Gen. Luis Mendieta Ovalle was freed in a joint army-air force operation on Sunday, Mendieta’s 53rd birthday.
Uribe says troops also rescued Col. Luis Murillo in the same operation.
The president has not given further details, and it is not immediately clear whether Murillo belongs to the military or police.
Mendieta was a lieutenant colonel when he was captured by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, in November 1998. He was promoted to general in 2009 while still in captivity.
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