Howrah News Service -  Latest news and headlines on Howrah,West Bengal and World: Rebels free Betancourt after 6 years

Rebels free Betancourt after 6 years
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ASIANAGE on 03 July, 2008 04:23:13
 
BY HUGH BRONSTEIN
Bogota
July 3: Colombian troops tricked rebels into freeing politician Ingrid
Betancourt and three Americans in a bold but bloodless jungle rescue that dealt
a severe blow to Latin America’s oldest left-wing insurgency.
Ms Betancourt, a dual French-Colombian citizen and former presidential
candidate, had been held for six years by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of
Colombia, known as FARC, and was its most well-known captive.
Wednesday’s rescue further weakened the negotiating position of FARC rebels,
who are already reeling after the death of three top leaders, and bolstered
President Alvaro Uribe as he fends off a political scandal over bribery charges.
The successful mission could shore up investor confidence in US ally Mr Uribe,
who is hugely popular at home for his security drive against the FARC and his
free-market policies to foster investment and economic growth.
Ms Betancourt, 46, a mother of two, wept and prayed as she hugged relatives at
a Bogota Air Base while the three US defence contractors, Keith Stables, Marc
Gonsalves and Thomas Howes, were flown to the United States after five years in
captivity.
"I feel like I am returning from a journey into the past," said Ms Betancourt,
dressed in a combat jacket and appearing in decent health. Eleven kidnapped
soldiers and the police were also released after the 22-minute rescue operation
in the southern jungle province of Guaviare.
—Reuters