Colombian rebels free two hostages

Colombian Marxist rebels yesterday released two European backpackers they kidnapped at jungle ruins more than two months ago and promised to free four Israelis and a Briton before Christmas.

The release of the German and the Spaniard came the same day as the Army said it could have found the bullet-ridden body of Japanese carparts executive Chikao Muramatsu, who was kidnapped in 2001 and held for ransom by a different Marxist rebel army.

The National Liberation Army which held Reinhilt Weigel and Asier Huegun is a 5000-strong Cuban-inspired group known by its Spanish acronym, ELN. It still holds four Israelis and an English tourist seized at jungle ruins on September 12.