Arauca, November 25 (RHC)-- Two Colombian soldiers, held captive as prisoners of war by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People's Army (FARC-EP), were released Tuesday morning in the rural Department of Arauca, in the northeastern Colombian region.

Sources of the International Committee of the Red Cross confirmed that Colombian army soldiers Paulo César Rivera and Jonathan Andrés Díaz were released safe and sound by FARC-EP, in a humanitarian operation broadcast live by tele-Sur TV network.

Also participating in the operation were representatives from Norway and Cuba –- the two quarantor nations of the peace talks, started in 2012, between the Colombian government and FARC-EP in Havana, Cuba.

Still pending is the release of Army General Rubén Darío Alzáte and two other army officers, who were captured by FARC-EP in the Choco Department on November 16th after the three men entered a war zone dressed in civilian clothes, violating all security protocols in the area.

Alzáte's capture by FARC prompted Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos to suspend the on-going peace negotiations with FARC-EP in Havana.

The two Colombian soldiers that were released Tuesday morning had been captured by the guerrilla group in a combat operation in the Arauca Department on November 9th.