Extradition sought for two detained FARC members

BOGOTA, Colombia (CNN) -- Two guerrillas who were detained last week in a mission that freed 15 hostages -- including three U.S. defense contractors -- may soon face a judge in the United States.

The United States plans to formally ask Colombia on Wednesday to extradite the two to the United States, the Colombian government said in statement.

The two members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) face federal charges in the United States of hostage taking and supporting a foreign terrorist organization.

They were detained in a mission that freed three defense contractors -- Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell -- as well as Ingrid Betancourt, a prominent Colombian politician, and 11 Colombian police officers and soldiers.

The FARC members who were detained have been identified as Gerardo Antonio Aguilar Ramirez, known as "Cesar," and Alexander Farfan Suarez, known as "Gafas." iReport.com: Send your questions for Ingrid Betancourt

Gen. Freddy Padilla de Leon, the commanding general of the Colombian military, told reporters Tuesday that the United States planned to initiate extradition proceedings on Wednesday, the Colombian government statement said.

The Colombian government plans to act with haste on the request to clear the way for the rebels' extradition, the statement said.

Gonsalves, Howes and Stansell were conducting a joint U.S.-Colombian counternarcotics mission when their aircraft made an emergency landing because of mechanical failure in February 2003.

FARC members patrolling the area reached the aircraft and killed two crew members. The FARC called Stansell, Gonsalves and Howes spies and declared them prisoners of war, the U.S. State Department said.

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