US pledges to work closely with Colombia for hostages' freedom

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US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Tuesday the United States will work closely with the Colombian government on a new initiative to free hostages held by a leftist rebel group.

The latest effort has been launched by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and a Colombian senator who has been exploring the possibility of a prisoner swap with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

FARC is holding dozens of hostages, including three American contractors, as it continues to wage a decades-long civil war against the government.

Rice said the United States will support the initiative to secure the release of the hostages but will adhere to its policy of not cutting deals with groups considered to be terrorist organizations.

"We will work very closely with Colombia on this idea, on this initiative, to make certain that none of our and their red lines are crossed here," Rice said.

FARC has said it is willing to exchange the hostages for two senior FARC members, Anayibe Rojas, known as "Sonia," and Ricardo Palmera Pineda, alias "Simon Trinidad," imprisoned in the United States.

The Colombian senator, Piedad Cordoba, met with Rojas during a trip to the United States last week. dpa mm aw