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| Colombia hostage Betancourt freed | Colombia hostage Betancourt freed |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt and 14 other hostages have been freed after rebels were fooled by an undercover military operation. | French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt and 14 other hostages have been freed after rebels were fooled by an 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 reaction | 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 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 had made the rescue of Ms Betancourt a foreign policy priority, was joined by her family at the Elysee Palace in Paris. | 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 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". | 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". |
| The siblings are flying to Colombia to be reunited with their 46-year-old mother. | The siblings are flying 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 | Naked and blindfolded |
| The rescued captives included three US defence department contract workers captured after their light aircraft crashed in the Colombian jungle in 2003. | |
| 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. | |
| Ingrid Betancourt's son on his joy at her release | Ingrid Betancourt's son on his joy at her release |
| The other 11 people freed 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. | |
| "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," he said. |
| Intelligence agents had infiltrated the guerrilla ranks and duped the local commander in charge of the hostages, alias Cesar, the defence minister 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. | Cesar and another rebel who boarded the helicopter had been quickly overpowered and would now face justice, he added. |
| 'Without a scratch' | |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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:Farc leader Manuel Marulanda dies of 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 | |
| "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." | "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." |
| 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." | 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. | US ambassador to Colombia, William Brownfield, said there had been "close cooperation" from the Americans, including sharing of intelligence, equipment and training advice. |
| 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. |
| 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 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. |
| Ms Betancourt's release is said to be a huge coup for President Alvaro Uribe | Ms Betancourt's release is said to be a huge coup for President Alvaro Uribe |
| 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 high-profile hostages, among up to 700 other captives. | 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. |