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Colombian army rescues 15 FARC hostages

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-07-03 10:05

BOGOTA - The Colombian government said Wednesday that its army had rescued 15 hostages Wednesday, including former presidency candidate Ingrid Betancourt, held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt (R) hugs her mother Yolanda Pulecio after her arrival at Catam military airport in Bogota July 2, 2008. Betancourt, three Americans and 11 other hostages held for years in jungle captivity were rescued on Wednesday from leftist guerrillas by Colombian troops posing as aid workers. [Agencies]

Colombian Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos told reporters that the hostages, also including three US advisers and 11 Colombian soldiers, were rescued in an "unprecedented" operation in the southern Colombian province of Guaviare.

The helicopter-backed military operation, named "Jaque," was conceived more than one year ago with intelligence agents infiltrating the heart of FARC, Santos said.

The rebels agreed to deliver the hostages to the Colombian army without any military resistance, Santos said. Only one of the rebels was arrested.

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Betancourt, who was captured in February 2002 during a presidential campaign, said her rescue by the Colombian army "is a peace signal for Colombia."

"This is a miracle," the beaming Betancourt said Wednesday after arriving at a military airport in Bogota.

"Thank you Colombia. Thank you France," she said. The 46-year-old Betancourt also has French nationality and the French government has been campaigning hard to release her.

Betancourt said she and other released hostages had been held by FARC in the jungle of southern Colombia and did not realize they had been freed until the disguised militants told them on a helicopter that they were "National Army."

Meanwhile, Colombian Foreign Minister Fernando Araujo, who managed to escape in 2006 after being held captive for six years by FARC, was thrilled by the release of the 15 hostages.

"This is an act that brings back faith to all Colombians, and it reaffirms to the international community the seriousness and the right path of the security policy presented by President Alvaro Uribe," he said.

The three Americans, held since 2003, have been flown directly to the United States on a special plane, authorities said.

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