Bogota  - The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) freed four hostages Sunday, fulfilling the Marxist insurgent group's promise of a unilateral release.

The three police officers and one soldier, who had been held since 2007, were handed over by FARC members to the International Committee of the Red Cross in jungles in southern Colombia.

No ransoms were paid or other concessions made for the captives, apparently.

The hostages - Walter Lozano, Juan Galicia, Alexis Torres and William Dominguez - were to flown in two helicopters, provided by the Brazilian government for the release, to Villavicencio, 400 kilometres south of Bogota.

Their arrival was delayed by several hours due to poor weather, and increasingly nervous loved ones cheered and wept as the helicopters landed. In an initial statement issued on behalf of the former captives, the four men called for remaining hostages held by FARC not to be forgotten.

FARC has said it intends to release another hostage on Monday, former governor of Meta province, Alan Jara, and another on Wednesday, former Colombian parliament member Sigifredo Lopez. (dpa)