Freed Colombian hostages thank Venezuela after arrival

SANTO DOMINGO, Venezuela, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- The two choppers that transferred two hostages released by Colombia's Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC) earlier on Thursday arrived in the Venezuelan state of Tachira.

Colombians Clara Rojas and Consuelo Gonzalez arrived at Santo Domingo airport on 3:11 p.m. local time. Thereafter the hostages are expected to be transferred to Caracas.

They thanked Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez for his collaboration to accomplish their freedom.

Rojas and Gonzalez were freed by the FARC somewhere in the Colombian jungle, in the Guaviare department.

Venezuelan Interior Minister Ramon Rodriguez loaned Rojas a cell phone and she thanked Chavez for his negotiations to accomplish her liberation.

Gonzalez, meanwhile, told Chavez "to continue fighting" until the liberation of the rest of the FARC hostages is accomplished.

The women left the helicopter and headed towards Falcon aircraft that will fly them to the Caracas International Airport, where close relatives are waiting to greet them.

Venezuelan Rodriguez said the handover occurred at 11:20 Venezuelan time (15:50 GMT) and the former hostages are in "good conditions."

Rodriguez traveled in Venezuelan helicopters to pick up the hostages together with Cuban ambassador in Venezuela, German Sanchez, Colombia's former dialogues negotiator Piedad Cordoba and International Red Cross representatives to the Colombian jungle.

"Our interior minister has just told me we are receiving Clara and Consuelo from a FARC command, I greeted the head of the FARC's patrol," Chavez said.

Rojas, 44, was kidnapped in 2002 and Gonzalez, 57, in 2001 and their release was being awaited since days at the end of last year.