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| Betancourt reunited with family | Betancourt reunited with family |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Ingrid Betancourt has been reunited with her children - a day after being freed from more than six years of captivity in the Colombian jungle. | Ingrid Betancourt has been reunited with her children - a day after being freed from more than six years of captivity in the Colombian jungle. |
| The French-Colombian politician was among 15 hostages rescued without a shot being fired as their rebel captors were tricked into handing them over. | The French-Colombian politician was among 15 hostages rescued without a shot being fired as their rebel captors were tricked into handing them over. |
| Her children travelled to Bogota from France for the emotional reunion. | Her children travelled to Bogota from France for the emotional reunion. |
| Ms Betancourt said she would now work tirelessly for the freedom of all hostages being held by Farc rebels. | Ms Betancourt said she would now work tirelessly for the freedom of all hostages being held by Farc rebels. |
| "It is most important that every Colombian feels that we will free them - that our brothers in the jungle will return," she said. | "It is most important that every Colombian feels that we will free them - that our brothers in the jungle will return," she said. |
| The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, which has been waging a war of independence for the past four decades, still holds more than 40 high-profile hostages, among up to 700 other captives. | The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, which has been waging a war of independence for the past four decades, still holds more than 40 high-profile hostages, among up to 700 other captives. |
| 'Orgy of kisses' | 'Orgy of kisses' |
| A day after her release, Ms Betancourt raced up the steps of the aircraft to embrace her daughter, Melanie, and her son, Lorenzo Delloye-Betancourt, who had flown in from France. | A day after her release, Ms Betancourt raced up the steps of the aircraft to embrace her daughter, Melanie, and her son, Lorenzo Delloye-Betancourt, who had flown in from France. |
| INGRID BETANCOURT Born on 25 December 1961Grows up in Paris1989: Returns to Colombia1994: Elected to lower house1998: Becomes a senator2002: Kidnapped by Farc rebels How the hostages were freedIn pictures: Hostages freedJoy as US hostages return homeMedia marvel at release | INGRID BETANCOURT Born on 25 December 1961Grows up in Paris1989: Returns to Colombia1994: Elected to lower house1998: Becomes a senator2002: Kidnapped by Farc rebels How the hostages were freedIn pictures: Hostages freedJoy as US hostages return homeMedia marvel at release |
| She told reporters she was "so proud" of her children, who were 16 and 13 when she was seized. | She told reporters she was "so proud" of her children, who were 16 and 13 when she was seized. |
| "They fought a battle, they dug deep into their characters, from the depths of their souls and fought a very beautiful battle," she said. | "They fought a battle, they dug deep into their characters, from the depths of their souls and fought a very beautiful battle," she said. |
| She described the reunion as "an orgy of kisses". | She described the reunion as "an orgy of kisses". |
| "I don't know what I said to them. I think I cried... I told them that they would have to put up with me because I was going to stick to them like bubblegum and I was going to eat them up with kisses." | "I don't know what I said to them. I think I cried... I told them that they would have to put up with me because I was going to stick to them like bubblegum and I was going to eat them up with kisses." |
| Her daughter said the reunion was "the toughest and most beautiful moment that my brother and I have lived through". | Her daughter said the reunion was "the toughest and most beautiful moment that my brother and I have lived through". |
| Presidential hopes | Presidential hopes |
| Earlier, Ms Betancourt had hailed Wednesday's mission to free her and 14 fellow hostages as a "perfect operation". | Earlier, Ms Betancourt had hailed Wednesday's mission to free her and 14 fellow hostages as a "perfect operation". |
| HAVE YOUR SAYThis is the beginning of the end of Farc. As a Colombian citizen, I feel proud of my government and of the armed forces Pedro, Bogota, ColombiaSend us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYThis is the beginning of the end of Farc. As a Colombian citizen, I feel proud of my government and of the armed forces Pedro, Bogota, ColombiaSend us your comments |
| Colombian soldiers, posing as members of a non-government organisation, had flown the hostages to freedom in a helicopter. | Colombian soldiers, posing as members of a non-government organisation, had flown the hostages to freedom in a helicopter. |
| The local commander in charge of the hostages, a man known as Cesar, and another rebel were captured in the operation and will face justice, the authorities say. | The local commander in charge of the hostages, a man known as Cesar, and another rebel were captured in the operation and will face justice, the authorities say. |
| Also released were three Americans and 11 members of the Colombian security forces. | |
| The freed Americans - military contractors Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell - were flown to Texas late on Wednesday, and the US military later said they all were "in a very good physical health". | |
| The military said the three men - who had been held by Farc since February 2003 - would now undergo medical tests and would be reunited with their families at "a private location". | |
| CAPTIVITY TIMELINE Feb, 2002: Betancourt kidnapped by Farc rebelsFeb, 2003: US defence contractors Thomas Howes, Keith Stansell and Marc Gonsalves seized by after their plane goes down in southern ColombiaJan, 2008: Betancourt aide Clara Rojas and ex-congresswoman Consuelo Gonzalez freed by FarcMarch, 2008: Colombian forces raid rebel camp in Ecuador and kill Farc commander Raul ReyesMarch, 2008: Farc leader Manuel Marulanda dies of reported heart attackJuly, 2008: Colombian military frees Ms Betancourt, the three US contractors and 11 other hostages World reactionSend us your commentsBetancourt in her own wordsFrance's Betancourt infatuation | CAPTIVITY TIMELINE Feb, 2002: Betancourt kidnapped by Farc rebelsFeb, 2003: US defence contractors Thomas Howes, Keith Stansell and Marc Gonsalves seized by after their plane goes down in southern ColombiaJan, 2008: Betancourt aide Clara Rojas and ex-congresswoman Consuelo Gonzalez freed by FarcMarch, 2008: Colombian forces raid rebel camp in Ecuador and kill Farc commander Raul ReyesMarch, 2008: Farc leader Manuel Marulanda dies of reported heart attackJuly, 2008: Colombian military frees Ms Betancourt, the three US contractors and 11 other hostages World reactionSend us your commentsBetancourt in her own wordsFrance's Betancourt infatuation |
| US President George W Bush said his Colombian counterpart, President Alvaro Uribe had personally called him about the release. | US President George W Bush said his Colombian counterpart, President Alvaro Uribe had personally called him about the release. |
| "I told him what a joyous occasion it must be to know that the plan had worked, that people who were unjustly held were now free to be with their families," he said. | "I told him what a joyous occasion it must be to know that the plan had worked, that people who were unjustly held were now free to be with their families," he said. |
| "I appreciate his courage and his strong leadership and the successful operations they waged." | "I appreciate his courage and his strong leadership and the successful operations they waged." |
| White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said the US had been working with the Colombian authorities on the rescue plan for a long time, but was not able to go into specifics. | White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said the US had been working with the Colombian authorities on the rescue plan for a long time, but was not able to go into specifics. |
| Ms Betancourt also thanked the Colombian president, whom she had been running against as a presidential candidate when she was kidnapped in a Farc-controlled area of southern Colombia in 2002. | Ms Betancourt also thanked the Colombian president, whom she had been running against as a presidential candidate when she was kidnapped in a Farc-controlled area of southern Colombia in 2002. |
| "I continue to aspire to serve Colombia as president," she added. | "I continue to aspire to serve Colombia as president," she added. |
| On Friday, Ms Betancourt is due to travel to France to meet President Nicolas Sarkozy, who had made ensuring her rescue a foreign policy priority. | |
| The Colombian president has urged Farc to release its remaining hostages and seek peace. | The Colombian president has urged Farc to release its remaining hostages and seek peace. |
| 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 and a major blow to the Farc. | 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 and a major blow to 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. |