Chávez offers to mediate with FARC again

Chávez says he spoke with recently released hostage Ingrid Betancourt and she urged him to join her in seeking the freedom of all captives held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC.He said in a televised speech Wednesday that “we are willing to help” with any negotiations on hostage releases and peace efforts.The Venezuelan president played a key role in negotiations that prompted the FARC to release six hostages this year. But Colombian President Álvaro Uribe abruptly ended his involvement in November after accusing him of overstepping his mandate. (AP)