César Gaviria, Colombian former president and ex secretary-general of the Organization of American States (OAS), welcomed on Thursday a request made by Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez to the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC) to release hostages and pull out from the guerrilla warfare.

"I think it is good news for Colombia that President Chávez says so, because he has authority over FARC," said Gaviria in an interview with Caracol Radio, quoted by Efe.
 
Last Sunday, the Venezuelan ruler urged the FARC to release the people kidnapped by them "in exchange for nothing."

Gaviria feels that Chávez's shift of attitude, who earlier this year strongly recommended the international community to recognize the rebel group as a "legitimate belligerent force," could have been as result of the finding of the laptops property of the FARC second-in-command Raúl Reyes, which suggest links between the Venezuelan government and the FARC.
 
"Probably (Chávez) is worried about the large amount of grounds appearing in those computers," he speculated.