FARC Member Offers To
Release Betancourt,
Other Hostages
A member of the
Revolutionary Armed
Forces of Colombia (FARC)
has agreed to free
Ingrid Betancourt and
other hostages in
exchange for protection
from extradition,
Colombian President
Alvaro Uribe announced
Friday. His government
has accepted the rebel
initiative.
"A letter was sent to
the guerrilla who is
offering to release
Betancourt and other
hostages, telling him
that if he keeps his
promise he will not be
extradited, I hope he is
sincere," Uribe said.
High-profile hostage
Betancourt is a
French-Colombian citizen
who was kidnapped in
2002 while campaigning
for the Colombian
presidency.
The government says the
rebels currently hold
some 700 hostages,
Including three U.S.
military contractors
kidnapped in 2003.
"The rebels asked if we
could guarantee that
those who released the
hostages would not be
taken to jail and if
they could immediately
go to another country
like France," Uribe
said.
"Our response was
positive. Free the
hostages and
simultaneously they can
get on an airplane and
go to a foreign
country," Uribe pledged.
The 17,000-strong FARC
is Colombia's largest
anti-government group,
which has been in
operation since 1964.
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