Journalists are freed by Colombian rebels after 11-day kidnap ordeal

The journalists Ruth Morris and Scott Dalton have been freed by Marxist rebels who held them captive for 11 days in north-eastern Colombia.

Both hostages appeared to be in good health and were flown to Bogota. "I am doing great," Ms Morris said.

The pair were captured while on freelance assignment for the Los Angeles Times. Gunmen from the National Liberation Army (ELN) stopped the reporter and photographer at a roadblock outside Saravena, slipped hoods over their heads and led them to a jungle stronghold for an interview with their commander.

"The five ELN rebels at the roadblock told us their commander wanted to speak to us. We didn't have much choice. I interviewed him, and they made the decision to keep us," she said.

Although rebels frequently abduct Colombians and demand a ransom to pay for weapons, kidnapping Western journalists is unusual. Through almost four decades of civil war, international reporters have been permitted access to media-friendly rebels.

In Colombia, hostages are snatched at the rate of eight per day and held for months.

Ms Morris, a British freelancer who has contributed to The Independent, Time magazine and other publications, said they were moved a lot during their days in captivity. "We stayed in five different makeshift camps and safe houses in pastures, then in the jungle, near a river," she said.

"We were never tied up or separated. Scott and I kept together the whole time. We could play gin rummy at night and pass the hours. We were friendly with our captors, and thought this was the best way to get through it. "

Ms Morris recalled how Army helicopter overflights would frighten the kidnappers who would then move to another hideout. They were being pursued by a brigade of Colombian soldiers as well as the dominant guerrilla group, the Farc (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia), whose members out- number the ELN rebels by four to one.

Tension mounted when this rival band of gunmen started quarrelling about which rebel army should get custody of the hostages "While we were awaiting word (on whether we would be held) from the ELN, a Farc commander told us that they also were going to detain us," Ms Morris said. "So, it was a trying moment. To be kidnapped by one group is terrible. But to be kidnapped by two groups on the same day is just too much."

President Alvaro Uribe denounced the kidnappers, and cautioned journalists against roaming "terrorist-ridden countryside". His own father was killed in a bungled Farc abduction attempt.