CPJ welcomes release of French journalist in Colombia

NEW YORK, US: The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the release of French journalist Roméo Langlois who was held hostage for more than a month by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

"We welcome the release of Roméo Langlois, whose captivity signalled a significant setback for press freedom in Colombia," said Carlos Lauría, CPJ's senior program coordinator for the Americas. "We urge the FARC to end the unacceptable practice of taking journalists hostage, thus depriving Colombian citizens of vital, independent information about the civil conflict."

Langlois, a Colombia-based correspondent for the international TV network France 24 and a contributor to the Paris daily Le Figaro, was taken captive more than a month ago during a firefight between Colombian troops and FARC rebels.

Langlois had joined the troops to cover an anti-drug raid in the south of the country. In the past four months, three journalists have fled their homes after threats by alleged members of the FARC and criminal groups.