BOGOTA, Colombia (CNN) -- Colombian President Alvaro Uribe admitted Wednesday that the symbol of the neutral Red Cross organization was used in a hostage rescue mission that freed 15 people from leftist rebels two weeks ago.



What seems to be part of a red cross is seen on a bib worn by a man involved in the rescue in this official image.



Uribe made the admission after CNN reported on unpublished photographs and videos that clearly showed a man wearing a Red Cross bib. Wrongly using the Red Cross logo is prohibited by the Geneva Conventions.



The man was a member of the Colombian military intelligence team involved in the daring rescue, Uribe said in an address carried on national TV and radio.



The president said that as the constitutional head of the armed forces, he takes full political responsibility for what he described as a slip-up.



"This officer, upon confessing his mistake to his superiors, said when the [rescue] helicopter was about to land ... he saw so many guerrillas that he went into a state of angst," Uribe said.



"He feared for his life and put on the Red Cross bib over his jacket."



However, the confidential military source who showed CNN the photographs that included the man wearing the bib said they were taken moments before the mission took off.



Uribe said he was sorry for the mistake and has apologized to ICRC officials. There will be no official sanction against the man wearing the bib, he indicated.



Such a use of the Red Cross emblem could constitute a "war crime" under the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law and could endanger humanitarian workers in the future, according to international legal expert Mark Ellis, executive director of the International Bar Association.



The ICRC mission in Bogota said in a written statement that it "noted" Uribe's announcement.



The ICRC mission in Bogota said in a written statement: "As guardian of international humanitarian law, the ICRC reminds that the use of the Red Cross emblem is specifically regulated by the Geneva Conventions and its additional protocols.



"The Red Cross emblem has to be respected in all circumstances and cannot be used in an abusive manner.



"The ICRC as neutral and impartial must have the confidence of all the sides in the conflict in order to carry out its humanitarian work."



Colombian military intelligence used the Red Cross emblem in a rescue operation in which leftist guerrillas were duped into handing over 15 hostages, including former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt.



Photographs of the Colombian military intelligence-led team that spearheaded the rescue, shown to CNN by a confidential military source, show one man wearing a bib with the Red Cross symbol. The military source said the three photos were taken moments before the mission took off to persuade the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels to release the hostages to a supposed international aid group for transport to another rebel area.



Ellis said the conventions were "very strict" regarding use of the symbol because of what it represented: impartiality, neutrality. Watch possible misuse of emblem »



"If you use the emblem in a deceitful way, generally the conventions say it would be a breach. [Based on the information as explained to me,] the way that the images show the Red Cross emblem being used could be distinguished as a war crime, " Ellis added.



The unpublished video and photos of the mission, hailed internationally as a daring success, were shown to CNN by a military source looking to sell the material. CNN declined to buy the material at the price being asked; it was therefore unable to verify the authenticity of the images.



Uribe and his top generals had categorically denied that international humanitarian symbols were used in the July 2 rescue mission that freed the prized hostages.



The hostages had endured years of harsh captivity and deprivation in jungle camps since being captured or kidnapped. Some were held for as long as 10 years.



The rescue ruse also included bogus communications, sent electronically and by human couriers, to convince FARC rebels that superiors were ordering them to hand over hostages to the group posing as aid workers
What country is Uribe president of? What was the military source? What symbol was used in hostage resuce? Who used the Red Cross symbol? Photos came from what source?
Colombia confidential Red Cross Colombian military intelligence confidential military
question: What country is Uribe president of?, answer: Colombia | question: What was the military source?, answer: confidential | question: What symbol was used in hostage resuce?, answer: Red Cross | question: Who used the Red Cross symbol?, answer: Colombian military intelligence | question: Photos came from what source?, answer: confidential military