A group of Colombian politicians kidnapped almost four years ago by leftwing insurgents could soon be freed in Venezuela, delivering a political boost to both Colombian President Alvaro Uribe and Hugo Chávez, his Venezuelan counterpart.

In an unexpected turn at the weekend, 12 hostages appealed for Mr Chávez to secure their release by guerrillas from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or Farc. The hostages, who are among scores of Colombians and several foreigners being held by the Farc as trophies, pleaded in a video aired on local television for Venezuela to grant them “political asylum”.

Farc guerrillas are holding hostage three US military contractors and a former Colombian presidential candidate, Ingrid Betancourt, who also has French citizenship.

Venezuela’s vice-president, José Vicente Rangel, on Monday said his country’s “doors were open” to all asylum seekers.

The proposal has surfaced ahead of the scheduled visit on Thursday to Colombia by Philippe Douste-Blazy, the French foreign minister, who was expected to put forward a separate hostage release agreement.

The term “asylum” in this case is unusual because the hostages are not being pursued by the Colombian authorities for any crime. The idea may have been suggested by the Farc, rather than by the hostages themselves.

But analysts said it might also have been hatched by Mr Chávez, who has offered to broker peace initiatives in Colombia and whose government is believed to have frequent contacts with the Farc.

“It’s a very strange idea, I don’t think any of them actually need asylum in any meaningful sense, but if somehow this makes the Farc willing to go ahead then maybe that’s the key,” said Michael Spagat, Colombia expert at the UK’s Royal Holloway College.

Mr Uribe has meanwhile also given the idea his approval. “The Colombian government would accept the hostages being sent to Venezuela under any conditions, including asylum,” he said.

The hostages’ release would be a political boost for Mr Uribe, who is running for a second four-year presidential term in May. “If they could actually produce these hostages before the election that would be a coup for the Colombian government, even if they appear first of all with Chávez,” Mr Spagat said.

Farc commanders have previously asked for the release of dozens of their jailed comrades as part of a “prisoner swap”.