U.S. indicts Colombians accused of kidnappings

WASHINGTON -- A 10-count federal indictment made public Monday charges a group of Colombians with kidnapping at least eight Americans over several years and killing one of them after his company failed to pay a ransom.

The partially unsealed indictment claims the eight Colombians also were responsible for numerous other kidnappings between 1997 and last year. The group targeted Americans and other foreigners working in Ecuador on various construction and oil pipeline projects, court documents say.

Money and politics appeared to motivate the kidnappers, said Roscoe Howard, U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia. He said they are members of a violent, unidentified terrorist group.

"This indictment demonstrates the deep commitment the United States has to ensure that transgressions committed against United States nationals abroad will not go unpunished," Howard said.

The Colombians indicted were charged with conspiracy to commit hostage-taking, hostage-taking, hostage-taking resulting in death and murder of a U.S. national.