Colombian Rebels Free American Oil Workers

BOGOTA, Colombia — Leftist rebels freed three U.S. oil workers--including a California man--and a Colombian oil worker abducted a year ago at a job site near the Venezuelan border, the U.S.

Embassy here reported Friday.

The three Americans--Robert Hogan of Bakersfield and John Bagby and Gary Sams of Tulsa, Okla.--were released Thursday in northeastern city of Cucuta, an embassy spokesman said. He had no

further details.

The Caracol and RCN radio networks reported that the men’s Tulsa-based employer, NATCO, paid a ransom of $1 million for the release of the Americans and a Colombian employee, Ignacio Alonso.

Neither the U.S. Embassy nor the press office at the Defense Ministry could confirm that report.