In brief: Rebels release fourth hostage

BOGOTA, Colombia – Colombian rebels released a fourth captive on Sunday, but a planned handover of two others did not occur. The government said the men were not at the location designated for the helicopter retrieval by the International Red Cross.

Former Sen. Piedad Cordoba, the go-between in all 18 releases by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, since early 2008, did not offer an explanation except to say via Twitter that she was “certain we will soon see them freed.”

The FARC now holds fewer than 20 police and soldiers, whose freedom it has proposed exchanging for that of jailed rebels.

Carrier hijacked; fishing boat freed

NAIROBI, Kenya – Somali pirates hijacked a ship with 23 crew members, and a Danish warship freed a hijacked Yemeni fishing vessel that had been held for nearly a year, maritime authorities said Sunday.

The Maltese-flagged bulk carrier MV Sinin had 13 Iranians and 10 Indians on board when it came under attack Saturday, the European Union Naval Force said. In a separate incident, a Danish warship freed a hijacked fishing vessel and arrested 16 suspected Somali pirates, NATO said.

Street shootout leaves 7 dead

TOLUCA, Mexico – A state security official said a street shootout possibly between local drug gangs killed seven people and injured one in suburban Mexico City.

Mexico state security agency spokesman Edgar Sanchez said the shooting occurred early Sunday morning in the northern part of Mexico state that borders Mexico City. He said the dead, six men and one woman, all suffered gunshot wounds, and none have yet to be claimed by family.

State attorney general spokesman Alfredo Albiter said an investigation is under way on the cause of the killings, but he wouldn’t discount a dispute between local street dealers.

A shooting between two suspected drug gangs killed eight in the same area last month.