Former Middle East hostage, Mr Terry Waite, yesterday embarked on a mercy mission to secure the release of three American captives held by Colombian guerillas.
Mr Waite flew to New York to meet the former US hostage in Lebanon, Mr Terry Anderson, and the Colombian author Gabriel Garcia Marquez. The three will make an attempt to free the US missionaries which could result in a trip to the troubled South American country.
Speaking at his home near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, yesterday Mr Waite said: "I will be arriving in America to get the ball rolling. The details of how we are going to proceed will be decided on our arrival and announced on Tuesday."
The former Beirut captive has joined the campaign after a personal plea from relatives of the prisoners, who were kidnapped in 1993 by armed guerillas in a village in Panama before being taken into Colombia.
Mr Waite (58) has admitted a visit to Colombia could form part of his mission but he said he was not prepared to put himself in danger.
"After what happened the last time, people might think I'm crazy for doing it again, but I'm going into it with my eyes open," Mr Waite said.