Colombia hostages video released

A video has been broadcast showing high-profile hostages, including Ingrid Betancourt, captured by Colombian rebels five years ago.The footage of Mrs Betancourt and three Americans has been released by the Colombian Government.Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo said it was confiscated from three suspected rebels in Bogota and included images from October.It is the first proof since 2003 that the hostages were still alive.Mrs Betancourt, a dual French-Colombian citizen and former presidential candidate captured in 2002, and US contractors Thomas Howes, Marc Gonsalves and Keith Stansell, are among the most well-known captives held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels waging Latin America's oldest insurgency."In a Colombian army operation against the FARC's urban networks, three people were captured and in their possession was found proof of life of a group of kidnap victims," said Mr Restrepo.He said photographs and letters from hostages were also found.Mrs Betancourt's sister Astrid Betancourt said: "All we see is a single photo where she is sitting at a small table and appears fairly thin, with very, very long hair. She is looking down. I had the feeling that her hand was chained. It's a sad image of my sister, but she is alive."French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who has played a key role in recent efforts to broker a deal to free FARC hostages in exchange for jailed rebel fighters, said the findings were encouraging."Now that we know she is alive, we must fight relentlessly to obtain her release and an end to this ordeal as quickly as possible."Started in the 1960s as a leftist insurgency, the FARC is now deeply engaged in Colombia's cocaine trade and has kidnapped scores of police, soldiers, business owners and lawmakers for ransom and political leverage.© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.

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ITN | November 30, 2007

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