Marxist guerrilla group FARC has released two policemen who had been captured at an illegal ambush month ago. The two men were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross at FARC’s request according to the Red Cross.

The two policemen had been captured on 28 February in the rural district of Cacau, in the south of the country where FARC are active. Rebels had stopped the bus on which the two men were travelling.

FARC rarely release their hostages. The last time such occurred was on 26 March when FARC handed over two policemen to the Red Cross.

Violent attacks and kidnappings attributed to FARC have increased since Alvaro Uribe launched a campaign, financed by the US, to combat rebels, attack drug trafficking and disarm paramilitary groups.

FARC are holding hundreds of people hostage and talks to free them are at a stand still.