Washington: President George W Bush today hailed the release of hostages, three of them US nationals, from Marxist FARC rebels in Colombia, even as the White House said the operation had no "connection" with republican presidential candidate John McCain's visit to that country.

French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt taken hostage in 2002 and three Americans hostages since 2003 were released along with 11 Colombian soldiers in a helicopter- backed military operation yesterday.

Bush said, "Yesterday, President Alvaro Uribe of Colombia called (me) to give me the good news that hostages were rescued. People unjustly held are now free to be with their families".

American hostages Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell were freed in the operation, some 72 kms from the city of San Jose del Guaviare, Colombia.

"We were aware of the operation in its planning stages. We provided some specific support, which I m not allowed to go into the details," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said in her briefing.

When asked her comments on speculation that McCain happened to be in Colombia right on the eve of the operations, she said "I don't know. I think this was long in the planning stages. And I think the Colombians were able to take action when they were ready to and there was actionable intelligence to carry out the operation."

"I've heard nothing to suggest that there was any connection. I just think it was coincidence" the press secretary said.

However, Perino said: "But I did read somewhere that President Uribe let Senator McCain know about the possible operation when he was down there, but there s no connection in terms of timing" she added.

Source : PTI