France is ready to mediate an accord leading to the liberation of the hostages held by the rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) after Bogota announced it was ready to free 50 jailed guerrillas, French Foreign Ministry declared on Thursday.

"France showed many times its readiness to mediate the conclusion and the application of a humanitarian accord leading tothe liberation of the hostages held by the FARC," said French Foreign Ministry's spokeswoman Marie Masdupuy.

"We take note with attention the declarations made by Colombianauthorities...We wish that the proposal published yesterday (Wednesday) by the government Peace Commissioner would allow a rapid conclusion of such an accord," she said.

The Colombian government announced Wednesday that it was ready to free 50 jailed rebel leftist guerrillas under France and Switzerland's mediation on a prisoner swap for the liberation of dozens of hostages held by the insurgents, including some 20 political officials, 40 soldiers and three American citizens.

Source: Xinhua