Four Chinese hostages freed in Colombia

BOGOTA, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- Four Chinese hostages who were kidnapped in Colombia by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrilla group last year have been released, the Chinese embassy in Colombia confirmed Thursday.

The four, whose names are not identified, are in good health, though one was in a wheelchair, and will receive additional physical checkups in the capital Bogota, the embassy said.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos hailed the release of the hostages, saying he had spoken with Chinese Ambassador Wang Xiaoyuan, "and I want to celebrate the release of the four Chinese nationals. Kidnapping is something that should not happen again ever."

The four were kidnapped in Cagueta Department in southern Colombia on June 8, 2011.

They were released Wednesday night. They slept at a hotel in the town of San Vicente del Caguan, Caqueta, and were flown to Bogota Thursday on a plane chartered by the Chinese embassy. Ambassador Wang said they would be flown to China Friday.