FARC Rebels Free Kidnapped Soldier in Boost to Peace

FARC guerrillas freed Wednesday a Colombian soldier held by the Marxist rebels for two weeks, the defense ministry said, in a move that will inject fresh life into the peace process.

The release of Jesus Rojas came after the Red Cross intervened and is a timely boost to the peace talks between the government and rebels, with both sides vowing to reach a final deal by the end of March to end a five-decade conflict that has killed more than 220,000 people.

The army had said that the soldier was kidnapped while on leave.

But the rebels said he was traveling in disguise as a truck driver's helper to spy on a rebel stronghold in Caqueta department, in Colombia's southwest.

The defense ministry said that Rojas was in good health.

"Welcome to freedom," said Luis Carlos Villegas, the defense minister.