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July 5, 2008

Colombia Releases Video of Hostage Rescue 
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1CFFA6E:A6F02AD83191E16009DC55E077790CA1B3350E090FE6A6E8&
 
Hostages seen escorted by FARC captors who are unaware that they are
handing hostages over to Colombian military agents 
In this screenshot from a video released by Colombia's Army taken 2 July
2008, hostage Ingrid Betancourt reacts while being rescued from
captivity by a Colombian military missionThe Colombian military has
released a video recording of a rescue operation that freed 15
rebel-held hostages earlier this week.The video shows the hostages,
including French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt and three
American defense contractors, their hands bound with plastic ties,
boarding a disguised military helicopter. They are seen being escorted
by their captors, members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
(FARC), who are unaware that they are handing over their hostages to
Colombian military agents.Later, the video shows the hostages aboard the
helicopter, sobbing with joy after they realize they had been freed.The
footage was taken by a Colombian soldier posing as a
journalist.Colombian Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos during a press
conference in Bogota, 04 Jul 2008 In a!
 nother development, Colombian Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos has
rejected a Swiss radio report that Colombia had paid millions of dollars
in ransom to rebels for the hostage release.Santos also said the
operation was executed entirely by Colombian forces. Although he noted
that the United States provided some equipment.Betancourt, who was held
captive for six years, is in Paris where she has been welcomed by French
President Nicolas Sarkozy, who lobbied for her release.Betancourt was
seized in 2002 while campaigning for the Colombian presidency. The three
American contractors were kidnapped in 2003 when their small plane
crashed in the Colombian jungle during a counter-narcotics
operation.Colombian intelligence officials tricked rebels into handing
over their most prominent hostages for transport by helicopter to
another location. The hostages boarded what turned out to be government
helicopters that flew them to safety.The operation is widely described
as an embarrass!
 ing setback for the FARC, which has lost some of its senior commanders
 in recent months. Desertions also have trimmed its ranks. The United
States, Colombia and European Union have designated the FARC a terrorist
organization. The group is believed to be holding more than 700 hostages
in jungle locations.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.


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