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Canadian hostage freed in Ecuador

Last Updated: Saturday, October 9, 1999 | 10:37 PM ET

A Canadian woman freed Saturday after a month of captivity in the jungles of Ecuador was escorted to the capital, Quito, by the Canadian ambassador. She has called her family and could return to Canada as early as Sunday.

Sabine Roblain, a 26-year-old from Montreal, was one of three captives released overnight. She and two Spanish hostages were set free by the rebel group known as FARC, a large Colombian guerrilla group that has bases in Ecuador.

Canada's ambassador to Ecuador John Kneale says all three hostages are unharmed and in good health.

Sabine Roblain
Sabine Roblain

Roblain has been working in Ecuador for the Latin American Association for Educational Radio. She was travelling in the region when a dozen international hostages were taken last month. Seven other Canadians, all from the Edmonton area, are still being held along with one American.

The remaining hostages, all employees of United Pipeline Systems, were seized while working on an oil pipeline in early September.

A total of four people have now been released.




One Spaniard was released two weeks ago. Ander Mimenza says he was freed after his captors told him he was taken by mistake.

Mimenza said they were only interested in the oil workers.

Kneale refused to speculate on why the eight remaining hostages haven't been released.

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