Emotional scenes were witnessed at the city of Villavicencio, Columbia, when relatives greeted the freed hostages.

The leftist rebels, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), freed the last 10 police and military hostages held for 12 years in the jungle jails.

The release was the result of the mediation brokered by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and a group of Colombian negotiators led by former leftist senator Piedad Cordoba.

Farc has been in conflict with the Columbian government for the last fifty years and the group began capturing soldiers in 1996 demanding prisoner exchange.

"Welcome to liberty, soldiers and policemen of Colombia. Freedom has been very delayed but now it is yours, to the delight of the whole country," the BBC quoted President Juan Manuel Santos as saying.

Take a look at the jubilation of the freed hostages:

Columbia Hostage Release
Soldiers recently freed FARC rebels are accompanied by their comrades to meet the media at a military airport in Bogota Catam 03/04/2012. Reuters
Columbia Hostage Release
Colombian policemen recently freed by FARC rebels sit on a Brazilian army helicopter after being freed, at Villavicencio's airport. Reuters
Columbia Hostage Release
Relatives of hostages recently freed by FARC rebels arrive at a military airport in Bogota Catam. Reuters
Columbia Hostage Release
Members of the Brazilian army force, Red Cross delegate and Colombian soldiers and police officials freed by FARC rebels pose for pictures at Villavicencio's airport. Reuters
Columbia Hostage Release
A man looks at a poster with the faces of FARC hostages during a news conference in Bogota Reuters
Columbia Hostage Release
Soldiers and police officials held hostage by the FARC rebels celebrate as they arrive at Villavicencio's airport after being freed. Reuters
Columbia Hostage Release
Soldiers and police officials held hostage by the FARC rebels arrive at Villavicencio's airport after being freed. Reuters