The Colombian army has found a former congressman who was held hostage for more than eight years by the rebel group FARC.

According to the defence ministry, Oscar Lizcano and a rebel defector fled from a FARC jungle camp three days ago and stumbled upon an army brigade.

Mr Lizcano is undergoing exhaustive medical tests before being reunited with his family.

Now in his early 60s, he was a member of the lower house when he was abducted in August 2000.

His wife Martha describes the past eight years as a nightmare.

Two years ago the army rescued the couple's son who had been kidnapped by another rebel group.

Mr Lizcano was one of the FARC's highest profile hostages but the rebels still hold about 700 people captive.