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Colombia hostage Betancourt freed Colombia hostage Betancourt freed
(about 1 hour later)
French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt and 14 other hostages have been freed after rebels were fooled by a undercover military operation.French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt and 14 other hostages have been freed after rebels were fooled by a undercover military operation.
Ms Betancourt had been held for more than six years by the rebel Farc group and was their highest-profile captive.Ms Betancourt had been held for more than six years by the rebel Farc group and was their highest-profile captive.
President Alvaro Uribe of Colombia has congratulated the army on its success, and urged Farc to release its remaining hostages and seek peace.President Alvaro Uribe of Colombia has congratulated the army on its success, and urged Farc to release its remaining hostages and seek peace.
The Farc has been fighting to overthrow the Colombian government for 40 years.The Farc has been fighting to overthrow the Colombian government for 40 years.
'Miracle''Miracle'
Wearing military fatigues, a pale Ms Betancourt smiled as she emerged with other hostages from a military plane in the Colombian capital Bogota to be greeted by her mother and husband.Wearing military fatigues, a pale Ms Betancourt smiled as she emerged with other hostages from a military plane in the Colombian capital Bogota to be greeted by her mother and husband.
INGRID BETANCOURT Born on 25 December 1961Grows up in Paris1989: Returns to Colombia1994: Elected to lower house1998: Becomes a senator2002: Kidnapped by Farc rebels Profile: Ingrid BetancourtIn pictures: Hostages freedWorld reactionINGRID BETANCOURT Born on 25 December 1961Grows up in Paris1989: Returns to Colombia1994: Elected to lower house1998: Becomes a senator2002: Kidnapped by Farc rebels Profile: Ingrid BetancourtIn pictures: Hostages freedWorld reaction
"God, this is a miracle... There is no historical precedent for such a perfect operation," she told media at the air base."God, this is a miracle... There is no historical precedent for such a perfect operation," she told media at the air base.
Breaking into tears, she appealed to Farc to free the other hostages and make peace.Breaking into tears, she appealed to Farc to free the other hostages and make peace.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who was joined by Ms Betancourt's family at the Elysee Palace in Paris, said: "A nightmare of more than six years has ended." French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who had made the rescue of Ms Betancourt a foreign policy priority, was joined by her family at the Elysee Palace in Paris.
The French leader had made the rescue of Ms Betancourt a foreign policy priority. The freed hostage's son, Lorenzo Delloye-Betancourt, told the news conference it was "the best moment of my life". His sister Melanie said it was like "emerging from a bad dream".
Ms Betancourt's son, Lorenzo Delloye-Betancourt, told the news conference it was "the best moment of my life". His sister Melanie said it was like "emerging from a bad dream". The siblings have been flown to Colombia to be reunited with their 46-year-old mother.
The siblings are being flown to Colombia to be reunited with their 46-year-old mother.
Colombian Defence Minister Juan Manuel Santos said no-one had been hurt in Wednesday's operation in the southern province of Guaviare and that the 15 hostages were in relatively good health.Colombian Defence Minister Juan Manuel Santos said no-one had been hurt in Wednesday's operation in the southern province of Guaviare and that the 15 hostages were in relatively good health.
Naked and blindfolded
The other 11 people freed on Wednesday were members of the Colombian security forces who had been captured in various rebel attacks.The other 11 people freed on Wednesday were members of the Colombian security forces who had been captured in various rebel attacks.
Mr Santos said the Farc rebels had been tricked into handing over the hostages by soldiers posing as members of a fictitious non-government organisation that supposedly would fly the captives to a camp to meet rebel leader Alfonso Cano.
Ingrid Betancourt's son on his joy at her releaseIngrid Betancourt's son on his joy at her release
He said the Farc rebels had been tricked into handing over the hostages by soldiers posing as members of a fictitious non-government organisation that supposedly would fly the hostages to a camp to meet rebel leader Alfonso Cano. "The helicopters, which in reality were from the army, picked up the hostages in Guaviare and flew them to freedom," he said.
"The helicopters, which in reality were from the army, picked up the hostages in Guaviare and flew them to freedom," Mr Santos said. Intelligence agents had infiltrated the guerrilla ranks and duped the local commander in charge of the hostages, alias Cesar, the defence minister said.
Cesar and another rebel who boarded the helicopter had been quickly overpowered and would now face justice, he added.
Ms Betancourt later told a press conference she at first had had no idea she was being rescued until she found her captor himself captive naked and blindfolded on the floor of the aircraft.
"I saw this guerrilla commander, who had so often been cruel to us, on the floor," she said. "But I did not feel happiness. I felt sad."
'Without a scratch'
Armed forces chief Gen Freddy Padilla said: "We wanted to have it happen as it did today. Without a single shot. Without anyone wounded. Absolutely safe and sound, without a scratch."
US ambassador to Colombia, William Brownfield, said there had been "close cooperation" from the Americans, including sharing of intelligence, equipment and training advice.
The three Americans rescued were defence department contract workers captured after their light aircraft crashed in the Colombian jungle in 2003, the Colombian military said.The three Americans rescued were defence department contract workers captured after their light aircraft crashed in the Colombian jungle in 2003, the Colombian military said.
Mr Santos said the trio - Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell - had been flown home to the US to be reunited with their families. The trio - Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell - have now arrived back in San Antonio, Texas, where they will undergo medical tests and be reunited with their families.
STEPPING STONES TO FREEDOM Jan, 2008: Betancourt aide Clara Rojas and ex-congresswoman Consuelo Gonzalez freed by FarcFeb, 2008: Farc vows to hold three US hostages for 60 yearsMarch, 2008: Colombian forces raid rebel camp in Ecuador and kill Farc commander Raul ReyesMarch, 2008: Historic leader Manuel Marulanda dies of a reported heart attackApril, 2008: Farc says Ecuador raid has "gravely" harmed efforts to free Ms BetancourtJuly, 2008: Colombian military frees Ms Betancourt, the three US contractors and 11 other hostages
World leaders welcomed the news and celebrations erupted on the streets of Colombian cities as crowds hailed the jungle rescue in a country plagued for decades by kidnappings.World leaders welcomed the news and celebrations erupted on the streets of Colombian cities as crowds hailed the jungle rescue in a country plagued for decades by kidnappings.
STEPPING STONES TO FREEDOM Jan, 2008: Betancourt aide Clara Rojas and ex-congresswoman Consuelo Gonzalez freed by FarcFeb, 2008: Farc vows to hold three US hostages for 60 yearsMarch, 2008: Colombian forces raid rebel camp in Ecuador and kill Farc commander Raul ReyesApril, 2008: Farc says Ecuador raid has "gravely" harmed efforts to free Ms BetancourtJuly, 2008: Colombian military frees Ms Betancourt, the three US contractors and 11 other hostages
The BBC's Jeremy McDermott in Medellin says the successful operation by Colombian security forces is a political and military coup for the country's government.The BBC's Jeremy McDermott in Medellin says the successful operation by Colombian security forces is a political and military coup for the country's government.
As such, it will relieve the pressure on President Alvaro Uribe to negotiate with the Farc - the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - allowing him to continue with his US-backed military offensive against the group, our correspondent says. As such, it will relieve the pressure on President Uribe to negotiate with the Farc - the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - allowing him to continue with his US-backed military offensive against the group, our correspondent says.
The Farc had hoped to exchange some 60 political hostages for hundreds of rebels held by the Colombian government, he says, but with Ms Betancourt's rescue they have lost a powerful negotiating tool.The Farc had hoped to exchange some 60 political hostages for hundreds of rebels held by the Colombian government, he says, but with Ms Betancourt's rescue they have lost a powerful negotiating tool.
The news is yet another blow to the once-mighty Farc, our correspondent adds, following the death of its legendary leader Manuel Marulanda in March, along with two other members of the guerrilla group's seven-man ruling body.The news is yet another blow to the once-mighty Farc, our correspondent adds, following the death of its legendary leader Manuel Marulanda in March, along with two other members of the guerrilla group's seven-man ruling body.
The Farc still holds more than 40 hostages. The Farc still holds more than 40 high-profile hostages, among up to 700 other captives.
Video pictures released last November had shown Ms Betancourt looking gaunt and frail.Video pictures released last November had shown Ms Betancourt looking gaunt and frail.
Accounts from freed hostages that she was in danger of dying had heightened the sense of urgency surrounding her fate, our correspondent adds.Accounts from freed hostages that she was in danger of dying had heightened the sense of urgency surrounding her fate, our correspondent adds.
Ms Betancourt has dual citizenship as the result of marriage to a French diplomat - since dissolved - which produced two children, who worked hard to keep her captivity in the spotlight.Ms Betancourt has dual citizenship as the result of marriage to a French diplomat - since dissolved - which produced two children, who worked hard to keep her captivity in the spotlight.
The politician was kidnapped in February 2002 while campaigning in territory controlled by the Farc.The politician was kidnapped in February 2002 while campaigning in territory controlled by the Farc.
What's your reaction to Ingrid Betancourt's release? Do you know her or any of the other hostages? Send us your comments using the form below.
What's your reaction to Ingrid Betancourt's release? Do you know her or any of the other hostages? Send us your comments using the form below.
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