Four hostages were handed over to the International Red Cross on Sunday by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in their first unconditional release of hostages in almost a year. This release follows the high-profile rescue of Íngrid Betancourt last July, who had been a prisoner of the FARC for over six years.
The toD verdict: The release of these four hostages, three policemen and a soldier, is thought to be a goodwill gesture from the FARC, who have sought to overthrow Colombian governments since the 1960s but have in recent years been severely weakened by a US-backed military crackdown. Despite suspicions that the releases may give the rebel fighters more political leverage, it seems unlikely that the Colombian government will open up negotiations with the FARC. The handover of the hostages was tarnished by allegations that the Colombian military interfered, causing the mission to be delayed, and as the exchange was made, a FARC commander claimed that the military had killed one of his unit earlier the same day. Keep up to date with the latest developments and sharpest perspectives in a world of strife and struggle.
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More hand-overs are set to take place this week, with the release of former provincial governor Alan Jara on Monday and that of lawmaker Sigifredo Lopez on Wednesday. The exact number of hostages still held by the FARC is unknown, but the Colombian government claims they hold only one foreigner, the Swedish citizen Roland Larsson.
The explosion of a bomb outside a police building just hours later on Sunday had not been linked to the FARC.
"Harsh and disproportionate" reprisals promised for Hamas
After the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's threat of "harsh and disproportionate" reprisals for the continuing rocket fire coming out of Gaza, Israel launched a series of air strikes in the Gaza Strip which targeted a Hamas security base and tunnels purportedly used for weapons smuggling. On Sunday, at least two rockets and several mortars were shot into Israel, wounding two soldiers and a civilian. Despite a truce that began two weeks ago after the three-week-long Gaza offensive, Palestinian rockets have continued. While Hamas has not taken responsibility for the attacks, Israel has declared that it holds them accountable. Israel and Hamas have been holding talks with Egyptian mediators to negotiate a more long-term ceasefire, but with Israeli elections set for 10 February, it remains to be seen what the next stage in the conflict will be.
Synagogue attacked as Venezuelan government cuts ties with Israel
The oldest synagogue in Venezuela, located in Caracas, was vandalised by an armed group late on Friday. Religious objects were destroyed and walls were spray-painted with comments such as "we don't want murderers," and "Jews, get out," in the worst ever attack on the Venezualan Jewish community. On 6 January, President Hugo Chavez ordered the expulsion of all Israeli diplomats from his country, which resulted in an identical Israeli response. The leader of the 15,000-strong Jewish community in Venezuela has blamed Chavez's recent condemnation of Israel for attacks such as Friday's.
Madagascan opposition leader announces assumption of power
After a week of civil unrest which has resulted in the death of 83 people and the injury of 300 more, Andry Rajoelina, the head of Madagascar's opposition and mayor of the country's capital city Antananarivo, has declared himself the new head of the country's government. Rajoelina, who has carried out a campaign of strikes and rallies against Ravalomanana's government, came out on Saturday to declare his new position and to urge the population to demand the former President's resignation.
However, the African Union has responded by reasserting its rules on coups: "It's totally forbidden to take power by non-constitutional means," said the organisation's chairperson, Jean Ping. The Madagascan government denies that Rajoelina is the new head of state.
Attack on Sri Lankan hospital kills thirteen
Artillery attacks hit a hospital twice in the space of just a few hours in Sri Lanka's war zone on Sunday, killing at least 13 people. The hospital, one of few still operating in the area, lies close to the frontline of fighting in a civil war which has raged for over 25 years and claimed the lives of over 70,000 people. Although the perpetrators of the strike have not yet been identified, Dr Thurairajah Varatharajah, the region's most senior health official, said that the Sri Lankan army seemed to be behind the attack. The Red Cross has condemned the attack, which caused significant damage to the Puthukkudiyiruppu hospital. The attack came after the failure of a government-declared 48-hour ceasefire.
Civilian deaths continue in Afghanistan as US prepares to increase troops
In Afghanistan, clashes in Helmand province between Nato's International Security Assistance Force and Taliban insurgents resulted in the death of at least three civilians, of whom two were children. Elsewhere in Afghanistan, a demonstration took place on Sunday night after a raid by the US army killed several civilians. Earlier in the day a suicide bomber drove a car laden with explosives into a convoy of foreign troops in Kabul, wounding two Afghans. The Taliban has claimed responsibility for this attack
The country's President, Hamid Karzai, has demanded that the US and Nato do more to stop the killing of civilians. Barack Obama's administration is expected to send 30,000 extra troops to Afghanistan, which the US President considers to be the "central front" in the war on terror. The Taliban, however, has warned him that these plans will lead to more deaths and bloodshed in Afghanistan.
Death toll mounts in Swat Valley
At least 43 civilians died when they were caught in the crossfire between Pakistani forces and Taliban fighters on Sunday in Charbagh, a district of Swat Valley in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province. The area, once a prospering tourist region, has become a Taliban base where Islamic laws are being imposed on the population, from banning music to stopping school attendance for girls and women. At least 180 schools have been destroyed in the region. The night before, three security men were shot dead and six more were wounded when a checkpost was attacked on the outskirts of Peshawar.
