Colombian Rebels Free Two German Hostages

Colombian rebels on Friday freed two Germans whom they had taken hostage in November, the International Committee of the Red Cross said.

The two men were turned over by National Liberation Army guerrillas in a rural area of northeast Colombia to a delegation that included Red Cross members, the ICRC said in a statement.

The men were identified as Uwe and Otto Breuer, brothers aged 69 and 73.

They were kidnapped four months ago in the same region of Norte de Santander department where they were released Friday.

The ICRC did not immediately say what physical condition the former captives were in.

They were being flown to the city of Ocana to be turned over to German embassy officials.

The rebels initially accused the Germans of being spies, but later asked that a humanitarian commission be formed so they could be handed over.

The ELN, as the guerrillas are known by their Spanish acronym, are Colombia's second largest rebel army, with an estimated 2,500 fighters.

The FARC, the country's largest guerrilla group with an estimated 8,000 fighters, is holding peace talks with the government.