Betancourt

Ms Betancourt's mother was particularly bitter in her criticism of the president during her tireless campaign for her daughter's release.

For the next six and a half years, Betancourt was kept in places all over the countryside of Columbia.

Former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt is celebrating with her family, after being freed from more than six years in captivity.

Ms Betancourt was a minor politician in Colombia when she was seized while campaigning for the presidency in 2002.

Betancourt, who holds Colombian and French citizenships, thanked France's government for recent efforts to pressure rebels to free hostages.

The release of Ms Betancourt, for instance, would be warmly welcomed in France.

He also praised the work of Colombia's armed forces and intelligence agents for securing the release of Betancourt and 14 others.

Berle made it his business to keep in close touch with men like Betancourt and Figueres .

alvaro Uribe, who at some political cost had resisted pressure to negotiate the release of Ms Betancourt.

The freeing of Ingrid Betancourt and other guerrilla hostages is a political apotheosis for President alvaro Uribe.

Ms Betancourt is a minor figure in Colombia but an iconic one in France, where she studied.

The army also rescued Ingrid Betancourt, the FARC's most famous hostage.

In May of 2001, Ingrid Betancourt launched her campaign1 to become president of Columbia.