This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7515939.stm
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Betancourt in plea to Farc rebels | Betancourt in plea to Farc rebels |
| (1 day later) | |
| The recently freed French-Colombian politician, Ingrid Betancourt, has urged her former captors, the Marxist Farc rebels, to release all hostages. | The recently freed French-Colombian politician, Ingrid Betancourt, has urged her former captors, the Marxist Farc rebels, to release all hostages. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Hundreds of thousands took to the streets in Colombia, some holding photographs of missing loved ones. | Hundreds of thousands took to the streets in Colombia, some holding photographs of missing loved ones. |
| The Farc has waged a 44-year civil war there and still holds 700 captives. | The Farc has waged a 44-year civil war there and still holds 700 captives. |
| Up to 2,000 more people are believed to be held by the ELN (National Liberation Army), another left-wing rebel group, in remote jungle and mountain camps. | Up to 2,000 more people are believed to be held by the ELN (National Liberation Army), another left-wing rebel group, in remote jungle and mountain camps. |
| Freedom call | Freedom call |
| 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. | 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. |
| She read out a list of names of those still held by the Farc (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) and called for their release. | She read out a list of names of those still held by the Farc (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) and called for their release. |
| In pictures: Marches for peaceHow the hostages were freedOrdeal of remaining hostagesQ&A: The civil conflict | In pictures: Marches for peaceHow the hostages were freedOrdeal of remaining hostagesQ&A: The civil conflict |
| "We want freedom for everyone," Ms Betancourt said in Spanish, amid applause and chants from the crowd of "Libertad", or Freedom. | "We want freedom for everyone," Ms Betancourt said in Spanish, amid applause and chants from the crowd of "Libertad", or Freedom. |
| Her speech was also broadcast in Colombia, where independence day celebrations became a mass national appeal for an end to hostage-taking and for peace moves between the government and the Farc. | Her speech was also broadcast in Colombia, where independence day celebrations became a mass national appeal for an end to hostage-taking and for peace moves between the government and the Farc. |
| Colombian pop star Shakira opened events in the Amazonian town of Leticia by singing the national anthem, flanked by President Alvaro Uribe and visiting dignitaries. | Colombian pop star Shakira opened events in the Amazonian town of Leticia by singing the national anthem, flanked by President Alvaro Uribe and visiting dignitaries. |
| Mr Uribe pledged to work for the release of all hostages. He offered "a commitment to those who have lost their freedom so that they may regain it, a message of commitment to the new generations so that the homeland will allow them to live happily". | Mr Uribe pledged to work for the release of all hostages. He offered "a commitment to those who have lost their freedom so that they may regain it, a message of commitment to the new generations so that the homeland will allow them to live happily". |
| Marches took place in most of the country's more than 1,000 municipalities, with the biggest turnout in the capital, Bogota. | Marches took place in most of the country's more than 1,000 municipalities, with the biggest turnout in the capital, Bogota. |
| The BBC's Jeremy McDermott, who is in the Colombian capital, described huge crowds of people dressed in white t-shirts - the colour of peace - shouting "Libertad! Libertad!". | The BBC's Jeremy McDermott, who is in the Colombian capital, described huge crowds of people dressed in white t-shirts - the colour of peace - shouting "Libertad! Libertad!". |
| But he says the question is whether the rebels of the Farc group are going to listen. | But he 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. |
| Thousands of Colombians used independence day celebrations to appeal for an end to kidnappings.Enlarge Image | Thousands of Colombians used independence day celebrations to appeal for an end to kidnappings.Enlarge Image |
| After the successful rescue of 15 hostages earlier this month from the Farc, the best-known of whom was Ms Betancourt, the turnout was expected to be even greater, although there are no official figures. | After the successful rescue of 15 hostages earlier this month from the Farc, the best-known of whom was Ms Betancourt, the turnout was expected to be even greater, although there are no official figures. |
| 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. | 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 government offensives and a series of recent setbacks, 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 Colombia but cries from more than 40 countries to end the kidnapping and violence, our correspondent says. | Yet even the Farc will have to pay attention to not just Colombia but cries from more than 40 countries to end the kidnapping and violence, our correspondent says. |