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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Betancourt rescuer wore Red Cross | Betancourt rescuer wore Red Cross |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Colombia's president has confimed that a Red Cross symbol was worn by a member of the military rescue mission that freed 15 hostages from Farc rebels. | |
| Alvaro Uribe said he had apologised to the Red Cross for the error, made by a nervous soldier acting against orders. | |
| Misuse of the Red Cross emblem is considered a violation of the Geneva Conventions and international law. | Misuse of the Red Cross emblem is considered a violation of the Geneva Conventions and international law. |
| Rescuers tricked rebels into releasing Ingrid Betancourt and 14 other hostages by posing as international aid workers. | Rescuers tricked rebels into releasing Ingrid Betancourt and 14 other hostages by posing as international aid workers. |
| President Uribe's acknowledgement followed reports that the Red Cross emblem had being displayed on clothing worn by Colombian intelligence officers during the rescue on 2 July. | President Uribe's acknowledgement followed reports that the Red Cross emblem had being displayed on clothing worn by Colombian intelligence officers during the rescue on 2 July. |
| Mr Uribe said that just one member of the team had worn the emblem "contradicting official orders" because he was nervous about the operation. | Mr Uribe said that just one member of the team had worn the emblem "contradicting official orders" because he was nervous about the operation. |
| Risk to aid workers | Risk to aid workers |
| The president said the name of the official would not be disclosed "because we do not want to affect his career". | The president said the name of the official would not be disclosed "because we do not want to affect his career". |
| "We regret that this occurred," said Mr Uribe. | "We regret that this occurred," said Mr Uribe. |
| President Uribe, left, congratulated his military leaders after the rescue | President Uribe, left, congratulated his military leaders after the rescue |
| Falsely portraying military personnel as Red Cross workers is against the Geneva Conventions because it could put humanitarian workers at risk when carrying out missions in war zones. | Falsely portraying military personnel as Red Cross workers is against the Geneva Conventions because it could put humanitarian workers at risk when carrying out missions in war zones. |
| It also undermines the neutrality of the Red Cross. | It also undermines the neutrality of the Red Cross. |
| Yves Heller, a Red Cross spokesman based in Bogota, said: "Parties to the conflict must respect the Red Cross emblem at all times and under all circumstances." | Yves Heller, a Red Cross spokesman based in Bogota, said: "Parties to the conflict must respect the Red Cross emblem at all times and under all circumstances." |
| She added: "We will continue working in the field in Colombia." | She added: "We will continue working in the field in Colombia." |