Jan. 11 - Colombian hostages Clara Rojas and Consuelo Gonzalez were freed by Marxist rebels who held them in the jungle for over 5 years.

The two women were handed over to Venezuelan and Cuban officials in the jungle as part of a deal brokered by Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez. They were flown to Santo Domingo where they transferred to planes before flying to their relatives in Caracas. There, they were received by Chavez at the Miraflores palace. The release encouraged relatives of the remaining hostages, including the mother of former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, who said she saw "a door to hope opening."

Helen Long reports.

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