Relatives of the hostages and peace mediators on Thursday called on the Colombian government to ease the release of six people abducted by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

Carlos Lozano, a mediator in communication with the FARC, said the improper remarks by high-level officials blocked the release of the hostages.

It is necessary for the government to drop its "arrogant" attitude in order to accelerate the release of the six hostages, Lozano told leftist weekly Voz.

Last December, the FARC announced they would release six of their "war prisoners," including former governor Alan Jara, former local lawmaker Sigifredo Lopez and four soldiers.

However, the rebel group declined to specify the place and date for the release.

The latest announcement was described as deceit and not a true sign of goodwill by the Colombian High Commissioner for Peace Luis Carlos Restrepo and Colombian Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos.

"One year ago, they were with the story of the delivery of Emmanuel (son of a former hostage) when they did not have him, and this year they continued to play the same trick," Santos said.

Mery Moreno, mother of one of the captured soldiers, called on the rebels to trust the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as a guaranty for the operation.

"Trust the ICRC because it is the only one that can help our sons to leave the mountains," Moreno said.

FARC, Colombia's largest guerilla group, currently holds an estimated 700 people, with some under captivity for as many as 11 years and waiting to be exchanged for imprisoned rebels.

(Xinhua News Agency January 2, 2009)