Freed Colombian hostage and former congressman Oscar Tulio Lizcano gestures after arriving at a military base in Cali, Colombia, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2008. (Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BOGOTA, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Former Colombian congressman Oscar Tulio Lizcano escaped from captivity Sunday after being held for more than eight years by the rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

    Lizcano got to a military base along with a young guerrilla who had been his jailer.

    During a brief news conference in the western city of Cali, Lizcano, 63, told the media that he fled a FARC's camp in western jungles and trudged for three days before finding a military base.

    Colombia's government army was said to have helped the escape.

    Juan Manuel Santos, defense minister of Colombia, said another rebel from the FARC had deserted earlier this month, disclosing Lizcano's whereabouts to the authorities.

    The guerrilla who escaped with Lizcano said the government army's operation had put pressures on FARC, leading to their shortage of food.

    The military rescued 15 hostages held by FARC in early July, including former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, who had been held for six years.

    As Colombia's most powerful insurgency group, FARC has been trying to topple the Bogota government since the 1960s.

    According to official statistics, there are thousands of hostages held by the rebels and criminal groups of Colombia.