BOGOTA, August 14, 2008 (AFP) - Colombian rebels have called for the International Committee of the Red Cross to explain why the military was able to use the ICRC emblem during a hostage rescue mission last month.

'Every day they ask us for explanation in our daily dialogue with them,' the head of the ICRC delegation Christophe Beney said Thursday.

'The ICRC wants to continue to have the confidence of all sides in the conflict,' he said, without explicitly mentioning the FARC rebels. He also called on the government to ensure 'this situation does not happen again.'

'In Colombia, the ICRC has gained access to the most difficult areas thanks to its emblem and what it represents. We urge once again today that the emblem of the ICRC be respected,' Beney said.

The president of the Colombian branch of the ICRC, Fernando Cardenas, also said rebels have been demanding an explanation.

'We have received messages demanding we offer a public explanation before resuming our activities.'

The International Committee of the Red Cross Wednesday deplored the apparent 'deliberate misuse' of its emblem by the Colombian military during the liberation of French-Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt on July 2.

The ICRC was reacting to video footage of the helicopter rescue mission aired on Colombia's RCN television late Monday showing a Colombian soldier wearing the ICRC emblem before the operation to release Betancourt and 14 other hostages had even begun.

The footage flew in the face of statements by Colombian President Alvaro Uribe after the rescue to the effect that the emblem was not used deliberately.