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Colombia rebels demand exchange Sarkozy 'may join hostage effort'
(1 day later)
A leader of Colombia's Farc rebel group has ruled out releasing a high-profile sick hostage and cast doubt on a French humanitarian mission sent to treat her. French President Nicolas Sarkozy would travel to Colombia's border with Venezuela to free a French-Colombian hostage, his foreign minister has said.
Rodrigo Granda suggested the Farc had not agreed to grant access to Ingrid Betancourt and would only release hostages through a prisoner exchange. Bernard Kouchner said France was still waiting for a direct response from Farc rebels about a mission to aid Ingrid Betancourt, who is seriously ill.
A former presidential candidate who also has French nationality, Ms Betancourt is said to be seriously ill. A senior Farc leader had suggested earlier Farc had not agreed to grant access to the high-profile hostage.
Her son earlier said she needed a blood transfusion within hours to stay alive. He said Farc would only release hostages through a prisoner exchange.
The French mission was sent to Colombia earlier this week after the government promised to suspend military operations against the Farc in the area where many of its hostages are believed to be held. "If there were a hope, (Venezuelan President Hugo) Chavez and Mr Sarkozy would go to get Madame Betancourt at the frontier," said Mr Kouchner.
'Peace gestures' 'We're in place'
In a statement posted on the ABP news agency's website, the left-wing rebel group's foreign relations chief suggested had neither agreed to grant the French mission access to Ms Betancourt nor to release any hostages unilaterally. But Mr Chavez, who has helped broker the release of six Farc hostages this year, warned he could not help without guarantees from the US and Colombia.
Only as a result of a prisoner exchange will those who are held captive in our camps go free Rodrigo GrandaFarc foreign relations chief Only as a result of a prisoner exchange will those who are held captive in our camps go free Rodrigo GrandaFarc rebel
"Only as a result of a prisoner exchange will those who are held captive in our camps go free," Mr Granda said. "We are willing to continue helping, but a series of gestures are needed from the Colombian and US governments (to establish) a minimum of trust that allows us to reactivate the paths toward a release," he said.
Lorenzo Delloye, Ms Betancourt's son, said earlier this week she had Hepatitis B and urgently needed a blood transfusion to stay alive.
The French mission was sent to Colombia on Thursday after the government promised to suspend military operations against Farc in the area where many of its hostages are believed to be held.
But on Friday the medical team remain grounded at a Bogota air base.
"We're waiting, we're in place," Mr Kouchner told Europe 1 Radio on Friday.
"We're trying, trying, trying and there's no other solution."
Rebel exchange
In a statement posted on the ABP news agency's website, senior Farc rebel Rodrigo Granda suggested he had neither agreed to grant the French mission access to Ms Betancourt nor to release any hostages unilaterally.
The French humanitarian mission landed in Colombia on Thursday
"Only as a result of a prisoner exchange will those who are held captive in our camps go free," he said.
He added that the group could not be asked for "more peace gestures", as it had already displayed enough political good will by releasing six political hostages earlier this year.He added that the group could not be asked for "more peace gestures", as it had already displayed enough political good will by releasing six political hostages earlier this year.
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe had earlier promised to make "all possible efforts" to help free Ms Betancourt and his country's military chief, Gen Freddy Padilla, has offered to facilitate the French mission. Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has promised to make "all possible efforts" to help free Ms Betancourt, and his country's military chief, Gen Freddy Padilla, has offered to facilitate the French mission.
Gen Padilla said the French team, which includes two doctors and two diplomats, did not know where she was being held, although French officials in Bogota and Paris have refused to confirm this.Gen Padilla said the French team, which includes two doctors and two diplomats, did not know where she was being held, although French officials in Bogota and Paris have refused to confirm this.
Ms Betancourt's husband, Juan Carlos Lecompte, said he hoped the French government knew more about her whereabouts then they were prepared to say. Jungle captivity
Mr Kouchner had initially voiced high optimism after the military plane carrying the French mission had landed at Bogota's Catam air base.
INGRID BETANCOURT Born on 25 December 1961Grows up in Paris1989: Returns to Colombia1994: Elected to lower house1998: Becomes a senator2002: Kidnapped by Farc rebels Profile: Ingrid BetancourtINGRID BETANCOURT 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
"Maybe they have information we don't know about," he told the Associated Press. "We have done all we humanly could and now we need to wait for our envoys, the doctor, to reach the field," he said.
After the military plane carrying the French mission landed at Bogota's Catam air base, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said: "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." Last week, France offered to take in rebels released from prison in exchange for the 46-year-old, who has been held in the jungle since 2002.
Earlier, Lorenzo Delloye, Ms Betancourt's son, said his mother had hepatitis B and a tropical skin disease that required a transfusion "in the coming hours". Ms Betancourt - a former Colombian presidential candidate - was pictured looking thin and frail in a recent video.
"This is my last appeal. There's no more time. Either we free mum and the other hostages or we'll lose them, and that's a question of hours," he said. She is one of 39 high-profile hostages whom Farc would like to exchange for 500 rebels currently in prison.
Last week, France offered to take in rebels released from prison in exchange for the 46-year-old, who has been held since 2002. The rebel group has been fighting the Colombian government for over 40 years.
Ms Betancourt was pictured looking thin and frail in a recent video.
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.