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French president plans to rescue Ingrid Betancourt from Columbia

Wednesday, 02 April 2008

French president plans to rescue Ingrid Betancourt from Columbia

French President Nicolas Sarkozy is planning to send a humanitarian mission to Colombia to seek the release of Ingrid Betancourt who has been hostage held by Farc rebels and is believed to be in danger of dying.

Nicolas Sarkozy said 46-year-old Ingrid Betancourt, who has been a captive for six years and who suffers from hepatitis B, is "in danger of imminent death," and he also made a direct appeal to the Farc group's leader Manuel Marulanda, asking for her freedom.

The Colombian president Alvaro Uribe Velez has confirmed that he will cease military operations in any area where the French rescue mission plans to travel through, and he said the mission had his full support.

President Alvaro Uribe Velez said: "We have expressed our complete agreement to allow this international medical mission to make contact with the hostages and treat them."

Last week France offered to take in Farc rebels released from prison in exchange for Ingrid Betancourt, who has French and Columbian nationality and who has been held since 2002 when she was campaigning as a candidate for the presidency of the country.

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