The two men had been kidnapped by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) on April 21, 2002 while they were taking part in a march near the northwestern city of Medellin, capital of Antioquia province, where Gaviria was governor.

The FARC, the country's largest guerrilla group, is holding more than 800 hostages, including senators, governors, a presidential candidate and mayors, as well as police and members of the armed forces.

The rebels are also holding three Americans captured when their surveillance plane was shot down earlier this month.

Gaviria and Echeverri were included on a list of personalities that the rebels want to swap for imprisoned guerrillas.

The government of President Alvaro Uribe has refused to meet FARC demands for a prisoner swap.

Colombia leads the world in kidnappings, with more than 3,000 hostages taken each year. A smaller leftist insurgency, right-wing paramilitaries and common criminals also engage in abductions.

SPACE.WIRE