Colombian president says rebels free hostages including general

General Ruben Dario Alzate, who heads the Titan task force in the western department of Choco, in an undated handout photo released November 17, 2014. REUTERS/Colombian Army press office/Handout via Reuters

BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said Marxist FARC rebels had freed an army general and two others on Sunday, paving the way for peace talks to resume in the quest to end five decades of conflict.

Santos halted peace negotiations in Havana two weeks ago after the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia seized five hostages, including General Ruben Dario Alzate, disrupting the push to stem violence that has killed more than 200,000 people.