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| Betancourt needs urgent treatment | Betancourt needs urgent treatment |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt needs a blood transfusion within hours to stay alive, according to her son. | The Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt needs a blood transfusion within hours to stay alive, according to her son. |
| Lorenzo Delloye says his mother has hepatitis B and a skin disease, which require a blood transfusion "in the coming hours". | Lorenzo Delloye says his mother has hepatitis B and a skin disease, which require a blood transfusion "in the coming hours". |
| Ms Betancourt, who also holds French nationality, was captured by Farc rebels in 2002, while campaigning for the presidency. | |
| A French medical mission is to leave for Colombia on Wednesday or Thursday. | |
| The French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said the team would leave "as soon as possible". | The French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said the team would leave "as soon as possible". |
| He added: "We have high hopes. We have done all we humanly could, and now we need to wait for our envoys, the doctor, to reach the field." | He added: "We have high hopes. We have done all we humanly could, and now we need to wait for our envoys, the doctor, to reach the field." |
| 'In danger' | 'In danger' |
| French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced the mission on Tuesday, after Colombia agreed to suspend military operations against the rebels. | French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced the mission on Tuesday, after Colombia agreed to suspend military operations against the rebels. |
| He said Ms Betancourt, held in the Colombian jungle for six years, was "in danger of imminent death". | He said Ms Betancourt, held in the Colombian jungle for six years, was "in danger of imminent death". |
| Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe said the French mission, which will be accompanied by the International Committee of the Red Cross, had his full backing. | Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe said the French mission, which will be accompanied by the International Committee of the Red Cross, had his full backing. |
| INGRID BETANCOURT Ingrid Betancourt before her kidnap (left) and several years later (right) Born on 25 December 1961Grows up in Paris1989: Returns to Colombia1994: Elected to lower house1998: Becomes a senator2002: Kidnapped by Farc rebels Profile: Ingrid Betancourt | INGRID BETANCOURT Ingrid Betancourt before her kidnap (left) and several years later (right) Born on 25 December 1961Grows up in Paris1989: Returns to Colombia1994: Elected to lower house1998: Becomes a senator2002: Kidnapped by Farc rebels Profile: Ingrid Betancourt |
| "We have expressed our complete agreement to allow this international medical mission to make contact with the hostages and treat them," he said. | "We have expressed our complete agreement to allow this international medical mission to make contact with the hostages and treat them," he said. |
| The French president's office said over the weekend that a medically equipped plane was on stand-by to evacuate Ms Betancourt if she was released. | The French president's office said over the weekend that a medically equipped plane was on stand-by to evacuate Ms Betancourt if she was released. |
| 'Grave blow' | 'Grave blow' |
| The BBC's Jeremy McDermott reports from Colombia that there is as yet no indication from Farc that they are ready to give up their most high-profile hostage. | The BBC's Jeremy McDermott reports from Colombia that there is as yet no indication from Farc that they are ready to give up their most high-profile hostage. |
| He says that the recent killing of the group's chief negotiator was described by the rebels as a "grave blow". | He says that the recent killing of the group's chief negotiator was described by the rebels as a "grave blow". |
| Last week France offered to take in Farc rebels released from prison in exchange for 46-year-old Ms Betancourt, who has been held in the jungle since she was seized. | Last week France offered to take in Farc rebels released from prison in exchange for 46-year-old Ms Betancourt, who has been held in the jungle since she was seized. |
| She was pictured looking thin and frail in a recent video. | She was pictured looking thin and frail in a recent video. |
| Her case has drawn broad international attention for years, particularly in France, where she holds nationality acquired through her marriage to a Frenchman. | |
| Her former husband has said he fears she may be dying or already dead. | Her former husband has said he fears she may be dying or already dead. |
| She is one of 39 high-profile hostages whom Farc would like to exchange for 500 rebels currently in prison. | She is one of 39 high-profile hostages whom Farc would like to exchange for 500 rebels currently in prison. |
| The rebel group has been fighting the Colombian government for over 40 years. | The rebel group has been fighting the Colombian government for over 40 years. |