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Colombia rescues hostage Ingrid Betancourt
French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt, three Americans and 11 other hostages held for years in jungle captivity were rescued on Wednesday from leftist guerrillas by Colombian troops posing as aid workers.
The rescue was a huge coup for popular President Alvaro Uribe, an anti-guerrilla hard-liner who has used billions of dollars in U.S. aid to push the rebels onto the defensive, cut crime and spur economic growth.
Betancourt, 46, was the highest profile captive held by the
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as the FARC, Latin America's oldest surviving left-wing insurgency.
A former presidential candidate, her dual French-Colombian nationality had helped bring world attention to the plight of hostages held by the rebels.
"I believe that this is a sign of peace for Colombia, that we can find peace," Betancourt said, thanking the Colombian military for her rescue and weeping as she made her first public comments, carried on Colombian radio station Caracol.
Minutes later a pale but smiling Betancourt landed in Bogota's military air base, walking down the stairs of the plane and hugging her mother, Yolanda Pulecio, who was waiting on the runway.
Defence Minister Juan Manuel Santos said all of the former captives were in reasonably good health despite having been held in harsh conditions, often chained by the neck by their rebel captors.
The rescue was carried out in the southern jungle province of Guaviare, Santos said. Soldiers posed as members of a fictitious non-government organization that supposedly would fly the hostages by helicopter to a camp to meet with rebel leader Alfonso Cano.
"The helicopters, which in reality were from the army, picked up the hostages in Guaviare and flew them to freedom," Santos said. Two guerrillas were captured in the operation.
Fifteen long-term kidnap victims were rescued in all, including Betancourt and the three Americans, he said.
"It (the rescue) will go down in history for its audaciousness and effectiveness," Santos told reporters.
The FARC has been holding about 40 high-profile hostages it has sought to exchange for jailed rebels.
BETANCOURT AT MILITARY BASE
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Betancourt was in good health and despatched his Foreign Minister, Bernard Kouchner, in a plane to Colombia.
"Today a nightmare of more than six years has ended," Sarkozy said at the presidential palace.
The president's office said earlier that Sarkozy had had a long conversation with Uribe. France had made vigorous efforts to seek Betancourt's freedom.
The president's office said earlier that Sarkozy had had a long conversation with Uribe. France had made vigorous efforts to seek Betancourt's freedom.
Betancourt was kidnapped by the FARC in 2002 and was last seen in a rebel video at the end of last year looking ill, gaunt and despondent.
"I am filled with happiness," Betancourt's sister, Astrid, told Colombian radio. "These have been long years of waiting."
The freed Americans are former Defence Department contract workers Marc Gonsalves, Keith Stansell and Thomas Howes.
U.S. President George W. Bush spoke by telephone with Uribe.
"President Bush congratulated President Uribe, telling him he is a 'strong leader.' President Uribe thanked President Bush for his support and confidence in the Government of Colombia," Gordon Johndroe, White House National Security Council spokesman, said in Washington.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice congratulated Uribe. In a written statement she also urged the FARC to release all other hostages and said the United States held the group responsible for the health and well-being of those still in captivity.
The rescue was a huge coup for popular President Alvaro Uribe, an anti-guerrilla hard-liner who has used billions of dollars in U.S. aid to push the rebels onto the defensive, cut crime and spur economic growth.
Betancourt, 46, was the highest profile captive held by the
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as the FARC, Latin America's oldest surviving left-wing insurgency.
A former presidential candidate, her dual French-Colombian nationality had helped bring world attention to the plight of hostages held by the rebels.
"I believe that this is a sign of peace for Colombia, that we can find peace," Betancourt said, thanking the Colombian military for her rescue and weeping as she made her first public comments, carried on Colombian radio station Caracol.
Minutes later a pale but smiling Betancourt landed in Bogota's military air base, walking down the stairs of the plane and hugging her mother, Yolanda Pulecio, who was waiting on the runway.
Defence Minister Juan Manuel Santos said all of the former captives were in reasonably good health despite having been held in harsh conditions, often chained by the neck by their rebel captors.
The rescue was carried out in the southern jungle province of Guaviare, Santos said. Soldiers posed as members of a fictitious non-government organization that supposedly would fly the hostages by helicopter to a camp to meet with rebel leader Alfonso Cano.
"The helicopters, which in reality were from the army, picked up the hostages in Guaviare and flew them to freedom," Santos said. Two guerrillas were captured in the operation.
Fifteen long-term kidnap victims were rescued in all, including Betancourt and the three Americans, he said.
"It (the rescue) will go down in history for its audaciousness and effectiveness," Santos told reporters.
The FARC has been holding about 40 high-profile hostages it has sought to exchange for jailed rebels.
BETANCOURT AT MILITARY BASE
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Betancourt was in good health and despatched his Foreign Minister, Bernard Kouchner, in a plane to Colombia.
"Today a nightmare of more than six years has ended," Sarkozy said at the presidential palace.
The president's office said earlier that Sarkozy had had a long conversation with Uribe. France had made vigorous efforts to seek Betancourt's freedom.
The president's office said earlier that Sarkozy had had a long conversation with Uribe. France had made vigorous efforts to seek Betancourt's freedom.
Betancourt was kidnapped by the FARC in 2002 and was last seen in a rebel video at the end of last year looking ill, gaunt and despondent.
"I am filled with happiness," Betancourt's sister, Astrid, told Colombian radio. "These have been long years of waiting."
The freed Americans are former Defence Department contract workers Marc Gonsalves, Keith Stansell and Thomas Howes.
U.S. President George W. Bush spoke by telephone with Uribe.
"President Bush congratulated President Uribe, telling him he is a 'strong leader.' President Uribe thanked President Bush for his support and confidence in the Government of Colombia," Gordon Johndroe, White House National Security Council spokesman, said in Washington.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice congratulated Uribe. In a written statement she also urged the FARC to release all other hostages and said the United States held the group responsible for the health and well-being of those still in captivity.