Colombia: Farc Rebels Release General Ruben Alzate To Red Cross

Colombia's Farc rebel group has released an army general and two other captives after the suspension of peace talks with the government, president Juan Manuel Santos said on Twitter.

General Ruben Alzate and two other officials, who were kidnapped by the rebels in Arauca, near the border with Venezuela, were handed over to a humanitarian mission led by the International Red Cross.

The three are in good condition according to Santos, who added that they would be reunited with their families soon:

General Alzate is the highest ranking officer to be captured by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in the five decades of conflict.

President Santos had offered to collaborate for the safe return of the captives and assured that government peace negotiators would return to the Cuban capital for talks that had been called off, as soon as all the prisoners are released.

The 55-year-old general apparently violated military protocol and visited an energy project in Choco, a place rife with drug gangs, dressed a civilian, and without his security team.

The Colombian army had launched a massive search for Alzate, deploying 1,500 troops, 10 helicopters and planes, as well as boats and land vehicles in the jungles of Choco to search for Alzate.

Santos has promised to bring peace to Colombia, winning re-election this year against a right-wing opponent who had taken a stronger stance against Farc.