US authorities could demand the extradition to the United States of two FARC rebel leaders arrested last week by Colombian commandos during their rescue of 15 hostages, justice officials said Monday.
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels, Gerardo Antonio Aguilar Ramirez, alias "Cesar," and Alexander Farban Suarez, known as Enrique Gafas, were indicted by a US federal court in May 2006.
They are accused of belonging to a terrorist organization and of holding hostages. The court also holds them personally responsible for kidnapping three US contractors, who were freed last week after five years in captivity.
Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell were captured when their plane was shot down their plane during an anti-drug mission in February 2003.
They were freed along with French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt and 11 Colombian soldiers Wednesday in a daring operation by the Colombian army that saw commandos pose as FARC members and remove the hostages by helicopter.
"At this time, we cannot comment on whether or not a US extradition request for Cesar and Enrique Gafas has been filed with the Colombian government as of today," said the US Justice Department spokesman, Dean Boyd.
"We continue to work closely with the Colombian government on this matter."
Boyd nevertheless recalled the case of Simon Trinidad, another FARC leader suspected of being directly involved in kidnapping the trio. He was extradited December 31, 2004 to the United States and sentenced there to 60 years in jail.
