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| Freed Betancourt lands in France | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt has arrived in France, two days after her dramatic release from captivity in the Colombian jungle. | |
| She was greeted by President Nicolas Sarkozy, who had campaigned for her release, and is receiving what is being described as a hero's welcome. | |
| Mr Sarkozy hailed the strength of her family and said her release had given the world "a message of hope". | |
| She was freed with 14 other captives in an undercover operation. | She was freed with 14 other captives in an undercover operation. |
| They were rescued without a shot being fired as left-wing Farc rebels were tricked into handing them over. | They were rescued without a shot being fired as left-wing Farc rebels were tricked into handing them over. |
| Ms Betancourt was born in Colombia but spent much of her early life in France, and attended university there. | |
| Before leaving Colombia she said she was going to France to thank its people for their support. | |
| President Sarkozy was waiting for Ms Betancourt's arrival at the military airfield near Paris and was expected to take her to the Elysee Palace, his residence, for an official ceremony. | |
| INGRID BETANCOURT Born on 25 December 1961Grows up in Paris1989: Returns to Colombia1994: Elected to lower house1998: Becomes a senator2002: Kidnapped by Farc rebels France's Betancourt infatuationBetancourt back on political stageHow the hostages were freedJoy as US hostages return home | INGRID BETANCOURT Born on 25 December 1961Grows up in Paris1989: Returns to Colombia1994: Elected to lower house1998: Becomes a senator2002: Kidnapped by Farc rebels France's Betancourt infatuationBetancourt back on political stageHow the hostages were freedJoy as US hostages return home |
| Ms Betancourt's arrival in Europe came as the Vatican said in a statement that the Pope had sent a telegram to her expressing his happiness at her rescue. | |
| The Pope will also meet her as soon as it can be arranged, the Vatican statement added. | |
| The BBC's Jonny Dymond in Paris says coverage of her liberation and subsequent movements has been pretty much non-stop on French TV and radio. | The BBC's Jonny Dymond in Paris says coverage of her liberation and subsequent movements has been pretty much non-stop on French TV and radio. |
| "I want to come to France to thank all French people and share with them this moment of happiness," she said as she left Bogota on Thursday. | "I want to come to France to thank all French people and share with them this moment of happiness," she said as she left Bogota on Thursday. |
| She also told reporters that Colombia's Farc guerrillas now had the opportunity to hand over their remaining hostages and take the path towards peace. | She also told reporters that Colombia's Farc guerrillas now had the opportunity to hand over their remaining hostages and take the path towards peace. |
| "I hope that the Farc understands that this is the time to release all its hostages and use this release, this act, not only to improve its now tarnished image, but especially for us here in Colombia, to try to make this the first step towards a negotiated peace." | "I hope that the Farc understands that this is the time to release all its hostages and use this release, this act, not only to improve its now tarnished image, but especially for us here in Colombia, to try to make this the first step towards a negotiated peace." |
| The Farc, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, has been waging a guerrilla war to establish a Marxist government for the past four decades. | |
| The group still holds more than 40 high-profile hostages, among up to 700 other captives. | The group still holds more than 40 high-profile hostages, among up to 700 other captives. |
| Emotional reunion | Emotional reunion |
| Ms Betancourt was campaigning for the presidency against current incumbent Alvaro Uribe when she was kidnapped in a Farc-controlled area of southern Colombia in 2002. | Ms Betancourt was campaigning for the presidency against current incumbent Alvaro Uribe when she was kidnapped in a Farc-controlled area of southern Colombia in 2002. |
| After her release she thanked Mr Uribe and said she still aspired "to serve Colombia as president". | After her release she thanked Mr Uribe and said she still aspired "to serve Colombia as president". |
| 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 Send us your comments | |
| Mr Uribe was first elected president in 2002. He has pursued a hardline stance against Colombia's left-wing guerrilla groups while making tentative peace overtures. | |
| Wednesday's successful rescue by Colombian security forces was lauched after a disgruntled Farc member who had gone over to the government side infiltrated the group's leadership. | Wednesday's successful rescue by Colombian security forces was lauched after a disgruntled Farc member who had gone over to the government side infiltrated the group's leadership. |
| He convinced them to move Ms Betancourt and 14 other hostages to a rendezvous point in the jungle. | He convinced them to move Ms Betancourt and 14 other hostages to a rendezvous point in the jungle. |
| Waiting there were Colombian soldiers, posing as members of a non-government organisation. | Waiting there were Colombian soldiers, posing as members of a non-government organisation. |
| The local commander in charge of the hostages and another rebel were captured. They now face extradition to the US. | The local commander in charge of the hostages and another rebel were captured. They now face extradition to the US. |
| Colombian Vice-President Francisco Santos told the BBC that it was the beginning of the end of the Farc. | Colombian Vice-President Francisco Santos told the BBC that it was the beginning of the end of the Farc. |
| He said the government was weakening the rebels to a point of no return. | He said the government was weakening the rebels to a point of no return. |
| The operation was carried out with the help of US spy satellites which tracked the rebels and the hostages on a weeks-long journey through the jungle that ended with the rescue. | The operation was carried out with the help of US spy satellites which tracked the rebels and the hostages on a weeks-long journey through the jungle that ended with the rescue. |
| Ms Betancourt later had a tearful reunion with her two children, Melanie and Lorenzo Delloye-Betancourt, who had flown to the Colombian capital Bogota from France. | Ms Betancourt later had a tearful reunion with her two children, Melanie and Lorenzo Delloye-Betancourt, who had flown to the Colombian capital Bogota from France. |
| They were 16 and 13 when she was seized. | They were 16 and 13 when she was seized. |