Colombia says it was close to U.S. hostages

The troops saw the three bathing on the other side of the river they were at and heard them speak English, but didn’t have enough information  to start an immediate rescue operation, Santos said.

When the army approached the location later to rescue Keith Stansel, Thomas Howes and Marc Gonsalves, the guerrillas guarding them had already moved the camp and could no longer be traced.

Santos refused to say when the troops saw the three Americans.