Colombia: September 19, 1999

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Catholic bishop Quintero, kidnapped a month ago by the EPL (Populat Liberation Army) was released. The EPL demanded that the bishop, a sharp critic of all the violence in his diocese, leave the area. The bishop was kidnapped once before, two years ago. The EPL is one of the smaller rebel groups, and operates in the oil rich northern region of the country. In northwestern Colombia, the ELN, the second largest rebel group in the nation, kidnapped 30 civilians after a gunfight with troops.