Hopes are rising that seven hostages held by rebels in Colombia, including British hiker Mark Henderson, could soon be freed.
ITN reported that a judge had ordered the release from jail of Felipe Torres, a senior figure in the guerilla-style Colombian National Liberation Army.
The rebels holding Mr Henderson and six other tourists – a German, a Spaniard and four Israelis – are understood to be willing to let their captives go in exchange for imprisoned ELN fighters, ITN said.
The seven backpackers were snatched as they walked in the mountains of the Sierra Nevada three weeks ago. An eighth kidnap victim, 19-year-old British man Matthew Scott, gave his captors the slip and staged a daring escape.
The ELN announced it had seized the travellers to mark the 30th anniversary of the coup that overthrew leftist Chilean President Salvador Allende.
The incident has dealt another huge blow to Colombia’s tourism industry. ITN describes the country as the world’s “kidnap capital”, with more than 1,000 people abducted so far this year.
