Bogota, Nov 23 (IANS): Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said that he expected to secure the release of five hostages next week, including an army general, whose capture by the FARC rebels led the government to suspend peace talks.

"Coordinates for the liberation of the hostages have been received. I am giving instructions to facilitate the release for next week," Santos Saturday said via his Twitter account, reported Xinhua.

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) confirmed Tuesday it was holding army General Ruben Dario Alzate and his two companions captured over the weekend during its routine security operations in an area of the western Choco department.

A week earlier, two soldiers were taken hostage in the eastern Arauca department.

Following Alzate's capture, Santos ordered suspension of the two-year-long peace talks, aimed at ending the five decade armed conflict between the rebels and the armed forces that has claimed some 200,000 lives.