Colombian rebels free Canadian captive

Colombia's National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla group has freed Canadian engineer Jernoc Wobert after keeping him captive since January 18, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said.

Wobert boarded a helicopter after being freed in good health in a rural area of northern Colombia Tuesday, Xinhua reported citing the ICRC statement.

Top ELN leader Nicolas Rodriguez Bautista, alias "Gabino", said through a video message Tuesday that the release of the Canadian geologist would contribute to peace in Colombia, after president Juan Manuel Santos had demanded the rebels free all hostages as a condition to start peace talks.