hostages in Colombia CARACAS, Jan 10, SPA -- Venezuela sent helicoptersThursday on a mission to pick up two women who have beenheld hostage by Colombian rebels for years, AP quoted a Red Crossofficial as saying. The sensitive operation organized by President Hugo Chavezbegan after the Venezuelan leader announced that theRevolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, sent himthe coordinates to pick up Clara Rojas _ an aide to formerColombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt _ andformer congresswoman Consuelo Gonzalez. «The aircraft have departed and the operation is inprocess,» Irma Alvarez, spokeswoman for the InternationalCommittee of the Red Cross, told Venezuelan statetelevision. She declined to say where the helicopters haddeparted from or where they were headed. Colombia authorized two helicopters to participate in theairlift as it gave Chavez the green light to proceed withthe rescue mission. A previous Venezuelan-led mission to free the hostagesfell apart on Dec. 31.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/516391