Humanitarian commission on its way to pick up French journalist held by FARC

A humanitarian commission left the southern Colombian town of Florencia Wednesday to pick up French journalist Romeo Langlois who the FARC promised to release after more than a month in captivity.

The commission, consisting of members of the Red Cross, former Senator Piedad Cordoba and a French government delegate, left Florencia in a four-car convoy little before 7AM.

The Colombian military on Tuesday suspended all military activity 20 square kilometers around Florencia to allow the release operation to take place.

Local media expected Langlois to be released before noon local time, after which he will be taken to France.

The reporter was captured by FARC guerrillas on April 28 while embedded with Colombian armed forces carrying out anti-narcotics operations in the Caqueta department, where he will also be released. Langlois was shot in the arm and at least four soldiers were killed when the army unit was attacked by rebels.

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