Colombians take to the streets to demand release of hostagesColombians poured on to streets across the country yesterday in huge rallies to send their strongest message yet to leftwing rebels to release all of their remaining hostages held in jungle camps. Wearing white T-shirts with slogans such as "Free them now" or the name of a hostage, an estimated 1 million marchers in Bogotá walked through main avenues filling plazas and public parks. The marches were called following the rescue on July 2 of 15 hostages held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia Noun 1. Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - a powerful and wealthy terrorist organization formed in 1957 as the guerilla arm of the Colombian communist party; opposed to the United States; has strong ties to drug dealers (Farc), including French Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt, three American defence contractors and 11 members of Colombia's security forces. Betancourt lead a simultaneous event in Paris where she read out a list of names of 27 hostages still held by the Farc as bargaining chips bar·gain·ing chip n. Something, especially an inducement or concession, used as leverage in negotiations: "A bargaining chip is ultimately worthless if you're not willing to bargain it away" for negotiations with the government and called for their release. "We want freedom for everyone," said Betancourt, speaking in Spanish amid applause and chants from the crowd of "Libertad" (Freedom). Similar events were planned for other cities across the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. , Latin America Latin America, the Spanish-speaking, Portuguese-speaking, and French-speaking countries (except Canada) of North America, South America, Central America, and the West Indies. and Europe. In Leticia, the capital of Colombia's Amazon province, pop stars Shakira and Carlos Vives gave a free concert, sharing a stage with President Álvaro Uribe. The marches coincided with Colombian independence day, which is usually marked by solemn military parades. "We have to support those who are still there," said Alejandro Martínez, who marched through Bogotá with his wife and eight-year-old son. "We have to let them know we will not forget them." The Farc continues to hold an estimated 700 hostages. Other rebel groups, paramilitary militias and criminals are holding more than 2,000 others, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the Fundación Pais Libre, which tracks kidnappings. The number of kidnappings has dropped from a decade ago when Colombia was considered the kidnapping kidnapping, in law, the taking away of a person by force, threat, or deceit, with intent to cause him to be detained against his will. Kidnapping may be done for ransom or for political or other purposes. capital of the world but abductions are frequent. On Friday, the Farc kidnapped 10 people from a boat on the Atrato river The Río Atrato is a river of northwestern Colombia. It rises in the slopes of the Western Cordillera and flows almost due north to the Gulf of Urabá (or Gulf of Darién), where it forms a large, swampy delta. in the Pacific coast province of Chocó. 
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