(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-02-24 11:41

BOGOTA - The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) on Saturday said it would hold the three US hostages for 60 years as one of its member was sentenced to a six-decade imprisonment by a US court earlier.

The announcement was made by Ivan Marquez, a senior member of the FARC, Colombia's largest anti-government group, at an interview posted on the website of the Bolivian Press Agency.

The three US defense contractors -- Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell-- were captured by the FARC five years ago.

In January FARC commander Ricardo Palmera was sentenced by a U.S. court to the maximum jail of six decades after he was extradited to the United States and was convicted in the three contractors' kidnapping.