Colombia: Betancourt, US hostages freed

by Rachel Nixon | July 2, 2008 at 12:36 pm | 360 views | 9 comments

This news means freedom for French-Colombian Ingrid Betancourt after being held for more than six years by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

Coverage from NowPublic members Zichi and Maleger.

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombia's military says it has rescued 15 hostages, including former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and three U.S. military contractors, from leftist rebels.

Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos made the announcement at a news conference on Wednesday.

Mr Santos said nobody was hurt in the operation

which saw Colombian army commandos capture rebels who were manning a security ring around the hostages.
They forced the rebels to persuade their comrades to turn over the captives, without any loss of life.

Ms Betancourt is said to be in very poor health; the French government had made her release a priority. Earlier this year French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner went to Latin America to try to secure her release.

In France, Ingrid Betancourt's son hailed her release:

The son of Colombian-French hostage Ingrid Betancourt says her release after six years of captivity is "if true, the most beautiful news of my life."

Colombia's defense minister says the country's military has rescued former presidential candidate Betancourt and 14 other hostages from leftist rebels.

Betancourt's son Lorenzo Delloye-Betancourt said on France-Info radio Wednesday that he was "really surprised and happy" but he said he was waiting for more information about the release.

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Johnny Summerton

at 12:37 on July 2nd, 2008

good stuff:

Rachel Nixon

EXCELLENT news - will doubtless be all over the French press tomorrow. thanks for this

Caoimhin1

at 12:43 on July 2nd, 2008

good stuff:

Rachel Nixon, I like this story. It's good stuff.

jordan

at 12:50 on July 2nd, 2008

BREAKING:

Rachel, thanks for getting this story out so quickly. It will now show up on the home page for four hours. If new developments justify it, I'll renew this flag for another cycle. Additional coverage here.

rahul

at 13:12 on July 2nd, 2008

good stuff:

Rachel Nixon, I like this story. It is such good news. It's good stuff.

PS: According to Presidency of Colombia, local Globovision and Colombian RCN, Ingrid Betancourt was rescued by a military operation. Other 14 hostages were also freed. Three US citizens are among the liberated.

Luiz Castro

at 13:04 on July 2nd, 2008

good stuff:

Rachel Nixon, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Barry Artiste

at 13:15 on July 2nd, 2008

good stuff:

Rachel Nixon, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Jarrett Martineau

at 13:17 on July 2nd, 2008

good stuff:

Rachel Nixon, I like this story. It's good stuff.

mpress

at 17:37 on July 2nd, 2008

good stuff:

Rachel Nixon, Great news. No thanks to Chavez and his Marxist comrades. Chavez is a coward for backing these jungle rats for years.. VICTORY! Oh sorry for showing emotion. Good Stuff Rachel interesting story.

Rachel Nixon

at 13:37 on July 2nd, 2008

NOT BREAKING:

I'm removing the breaking news flag from this story for the time being, as Maleger is also providing updates on the release of Ingrid Betancourt and the other hostages.

If there are any new developments, please let me or him know.