UPDATE 5-Colombian rebels say to hand Chavez 3 hostages

(Adds Colombia reaction, details throughout)

By Patrick Markey

BOGOTA, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Colombian Marxist guerrillas have said they will turn over three hostages to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez just weeks after Bogota ended the leftist leader's efforts to broker the release of rebel captives.

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, said it had ordered Clara Rojas, her son Emmanuel and Consuelo Gonzalez released to Chavez or his contact, according to Cuban news agency Prensa Latina, which obtained the rebel statement.

The FARC, Latin America's oldest insurgency, holds scores of hostages in secret jungle camps for ransom and political leverage, with some captive for as long as a decade.

Hostage families welcomed news of the possible release, but it put pressure on Colombian President Alvaro Uribe after he sparked a spat by halting Chavez's mediation over hostages, including a French-Colombian politician and three Americans held for more than four years.

Chavez, a White House foe who presents his socialist vision as a counterweight to U.S. policies, confirmed the FARC statement. But he said he had yet to decide how to proceed and attacked Uribe for ending his negotiation efforts on Nov. 22.

"A few minutes ago, I received the FARC communique, I was ready for some hostage release ... it seems like a great Christmas present," Chavez said during a visit to Uruguay.

Colombia's government said it was reserving judgment on the FARC statement.