Mother of hostage blasts U.S. government

BOGOTA, Colombia -- The mother of one of the U.S. Defense Department contractors captured by Colombian rebels 18 months ago accused the U.S. government on Thursday of abandoning the three hostages.

On her first visit to Colombia since her son was captured on Feb. 13, 2003, Jo Rosano, of Bristol, Conn., said she was "sick and tired" of U.S. government officials telling her they were doing everything possible to secure his freedom.

"What are they doing? What is the progress? Anything?" said Rosano, mother of hostage Marc Gonsalves. "I believe the United States is just lying, pacifying me by saying 'we are doing what we can."'

A State Department spokes-man said Thursday that the U.S. government was working with Colombian officials to win their release.

Gonsalves, three other Americans and a Colombian army sergeant were on an anti-drug mission for U.S. Defense Department contractor Northrop Grumman when their single-engine plane developed engine trouble and crash-landed in southern jungles controlled by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.