Freed US hostages back on home soil (Roundup)

Jul 3, 2008, 17:37 GMT

Washington - The three US nationals held for five years by leftist rebels in Colombia were undergoing medical treatment in the US state of Texas on Thursday, a day after being rescued along with 12 other hostages including former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt.

Thomas Howes, Keith Stansell and Marc Gonsalves were brought back from Colombia by military plane late Wednesday night and taken to an Army hospital near San Antonio, Texas, where they were expected to be reunited with family members later Thursday.

'I was always hopeful that this day would happen. It seemed like a miracle that this day would happen and now it's happening,' George Gonsalves, Marc's father, told US broadcaster CNN.

The three men were kidnapped by the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC)in February 2003 after their plane crashed during a reconnaissance mission in southern Colombia.

Also with them at the time were fellow-US citizen Thomas Janis and Colombian Army sergeant Luis Alcides Cruz, both of whom were reportedly executed by the rebels soon after the crash.

The group had been under contract with the US Department of Defence and were assisting in Colombian anti-drug operations in the volatile region. It remains unknown whether the crash was due to a mechanical failure or if the plane was brought down by FARC.

All three had been reported in poor health as a result of injuries suffered from the crash and from tropical diseases contracted during their time in captivity, according to accounts by other hostages that had been released in the past.

'Thomas suffered a cut to the head which causes him frequent headaches, and he has a hypertension problem with very little medical treatment. Marc also has spine and knee problems as a result of the accident, as well as many tropical illnesses,' Luis Eladio Perez, a former Colombian legislator, said when he was released in February.

Television footage showed the three walking off the military plane from Colombia on their own power on Wednesday night. They ree could attend a press conference later today at the Army hospital when, at the very least, an update on their medical condition will be given.

'Medical professionals at the Brooke Army Medical Center will give them the best care possible until the reintegration process is complete,' the US Army South, the military division responsible for their care and debriefing, said in a statement.

Howes, Stansell and Gonsalves were rescued Wednesday, along with Betancourt and 11 others, as part of a rescue operation by Colombian forces that had been planned with help from the US military.

Undercover Colombian soldiers tricked rebels into allowing the 15 hostages to board a military plane, which promptly took them out of the jungle.

'This rescue was long in the planning, and we've been working with the Colombians for five years, since the hostages were taken, to free them from captivity,' White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.

The three men worked for California Microwave Systems, a subsidiary of defence giant Northrop Grumman, which said it was 'extremely pleased' its employees were free and looked forward to seeing them return to their families.

'The company is grateful for the outstanding efforts of the Colombian and US governments that resulted in the freedom of its coworkers and other Colombian citizens,' Northrop said Wednesday night.