The New Nation - Internet Edition

Only to Chavez

BBC Online: Colombia says it will allow Venezuelan aircraft into its territory to collect three hostages who could be freed by Colombian rebels in the next day or so. The Colombian government agreed to the plan worked out by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, provided the aircraft carry Red Cross markings. The rebels say they will free two women and a child but only to Chavez. They are among some 45 high-profile captives the guerrillas want to swap for some 500 rebels in Colombian jails. Colombian Foreign Minister Fernando Araujo in Bogota announced the approval of Chavez's plan. The rebels have offered to free Clara Rojas, an aide to former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, kidnapped in 2002, and Ms Rojas's young son Emmanuel - who was reportedly fathered by one of her guerrilla captors. The other hostage is former congresswoman Consuelo Gonzalez, who was kidnapped in 2001. Under the plan, Venezuelan airplanes and helicopters, with representatives of France, Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Bolivia and Ecuador and the International Committee of the Red Cross also on board, will fly to the Colombian city of Villavicencio.

Referee pulls out gun

Kuala Lumpur: A Malaysian referee took out his gun and fired warning shots in the air after a local soccer match turned unruly following the suspension of a player, a newspaper said Tuesday. The referee, who was also a policeman, ran to his patrol car to get his gun after players mobbed him for showing the red-card to one of them, the New Straits Times said. "We are investigating as to whether the policeman was justified in taking out his firearm and discharging it, and also why he had it with him during the match," it quoted Hussin Ismail, police chief in the southern Johor state, as saying.