Hopes of a speedy release for seven foreign tourists being held hostage by Colombian guerrillas have faded after a Roman Catholic Church mission failed to negotiate a solution. National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels never made contact with three priests who climbed the mountains of the Sierra Nevada in the hope of meeting them and visiting the kidnapped tourists.
After waiting for five days, the priests broke off their mission, said the Bishop of Santa Marta, Monsignor Ugo Puccini.
The priests had hoped to persuade the rebels to agree to the unconditional release of the hostages - a Briton, a German, a Spaniard and four Israelis.
 | HOSTAGES HELD Briton: Mark Henderson German: Reinhilt Weigel Israelis: Beni Daniel, Ortaz Ohayon, Ido Joseph Guy, Erez Altawil Spaniard: Asier Huegun |
The tourists were kidnapped as they hiked in the mountains of the Sierra Nevada more than three weeks ago. Another Briton seized at the time managed to escape and make his way to safety.
A larger rebel group, the FARC, are currently holding more than 50 political hostages, including three kidnapped Americans.
One-Minute World News 
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