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Mass march for peace in Colombia Betancourt in plea to Farc rebels
(about 5 hours later)
Colombia is preparing for what is expected to be one of the biggest demonstrations in its history. The recently freed French-Colombian politician, Ingrid Betancourt, has urged her former captors, the Marxist Farc rebels, to release all hostages.
Millions are expected to turn out, not just in Colombia but across the world, to call for an end to kidnapping and for peace. Ms Betancourt was leading a rally in the French capital, Paris - one in a series of global demonstrations calling for an end to kidnapping and for peace.
Ingrid Betancourt, the French-Colombian hostage freed in a daring military rescue earlier this month, will lead protests in Paris. Colombia is preparing for what is expected to be one of the biggest protest marches in its history.
The question is whether the rebels of the Farc group are going to listen. The Farc has waged a 44-year civil war there and still holds 700 captives.
There will be marches in most of Colombia's more than 1,000 municipalities and at least 40 cities around the world. In Paris, thousands gathered near the Eiffel Tower to hear Ms Betancourt, who was freed in a daring military rescue earlier this month after six years in captivity.
The biggest demonstration will be in Bogota, where people will walk along six different routes around the Colombian capital. She read out a list of names of those still held by the Farc and called for their release.
"We want freedom for everyone," said Ms Betancourt, speaking in Spanish amid applause and chants from the crowd of "Libertad", or Freedom.
Her speech was also broadcast in Colombia, where marches are expected to take place in most of the country's more than 1,000 municipalities.
Pop star Shakira is to lead the biggest demonstration, in Bogota, where people will walk along six different routes around the capital.
But the BBC's Jeremy McDermott in Bogata says the question is whether the rebels of the Farc group are going to listen.
'Impervious''Impervious'
A previous demonstration in February this year saw almost a million people take to the streets in Bogota alone.A previous demonstration in February this year saw almost a million people take to the streets in Bogota alone.
Now, after the successful rescue of 15 hostages earlier this month from the Farc (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia), the best-known of whom was Ms Betancourt, the turnout is expected to be even greater, with concerts and events being held not just in Colombia, but Paris as well. Now, after the successful rescue of 15 hostages earlier this month from the Farc (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia), the best-known of whom was Ms Betancourt, the turnout is expected to be even greater, with concerts and events being held in more than 40 countries.
The Farc appear to be impervious to cries for an end to kidnapping, let alone an end to the 44-year civil conflict. Our correspondent says the Farc appear to be impervious to cries for an end to kidnapping, let alone an end to the 44-year civil conflict.
Earlier this week, they kidnapped 10 people travelling down the Atrato River in the western province of Choco.Earlier this week, they kidnapped 10 people travelling down the Atrato River in the western province of Choco.
While being badly hit by US-backed government offensives and a series of recent disasters, there has been no softening of their position. While being badly hit by government offensives and a series of recent setbacks, there has been no softening of their position.
Yet even the Farc will have to pay attention to not just millions of Colombians but cries from around the world to end the kidnapping and violence. Yet even the Farc will have to pay attention to not just millions of Colombians but cries from around the world to end the kidnapping and violence, our correspondent says.
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