Colombia agreed on Wednesday to allow Venezuelan aircraft to land in the country to pick up three hostages held for years by leftist guerrillas, including a child born in captivity.

The plan to help free the captives was proposed earlier on Wednesday by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a left-winger who has been negotiating with Colombia's Marxist guerrilla leaders.

Colombia's foreign minister, Fernando Araujo, told reporters the government had authorized Chavez's plan.