Colombia's minister of defense has admitted that two of the nine people involved in this month's daring rescue of 15 hostages held by Colombian rebels were pretending to be working for a Venezuela-based television news organization.
More than a million Colombians, clad in white and shouting "No more kidnapping," marked their independence day on Sunday with marches and concerts demanding freedom for hostages still held by leftist rebels.
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe admitted Wednesday that the symbol of the neutral Red Cross organization was used in a hostage rescue mission that freed 15 people from leftist rebels two weeks ago.
President Nicolas Sarkozy pinned the Legion of Honor -- France's highest award -- on former hostage Ingrid Betancourt on Monday, praising her courage and saying: "We love you."
In the media frenzy of her return to France, the Parisian-raised Colombian politician ponders the psychological costs of her captivity and sudden freedom
Colombia's minister of defense has admitted that two of the nine people involved in this month's daring rescue of 15 hostages held by Colombian rebels were pretending to be working for a Venezuela-based television news organization.
More than a million Colombians, clad in white and shouting "No more kidnapping," marked their independence day on Sunday with marches and concerts demanding freedom for hostages still held by leftist rebels.
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe admitted Wednesday that the symbol of the neutral Red Cross organization was used in a hostage rescue mission that freed 15 people from leftist rebels two weeks ago.
President Nicolas Sarkozy pinned the Legion of Honor -- France's highest award -- on former hostage Ingrid Betancourt on Monday, praising her courage and saying: "We love you."
In the media frenzy of her return to France, the Parisian-raised Colombian politician ponders the psychological costs of her captivity and sudden freedom
The United States has formally requested the extradition of two Colombian guerrillas who were detained last week in a mission that freed 15 hostages, including three U.S. defense contractors and former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt.
Two guerrillas who were detained last week in a mission that freed 15 hostages -- including three U.S. defense contractors -- may soon face a judge in the United States.
The hostages held alongside Ingrid Betancourt in the Colombian jungle endured years of deprivation and abuse from the leftist rebels who kidnapped them, according to one former captive.
Ingrid Betancourt has reiterated that she does not believe her freedom or that of 14 other hostages was bought with a ransom to their Colombian rebel captors. But she suffered so much, she said, that had a ransom been paid, "why not?"
The three Americans rescued after more than five years in captivity in Colombia say they are doing well but are "overwhelmed with emotion," according to a statement released on their behalf.
Years after she was taken hostage in the jungles of South America, Ingrid Betancourt stood on French soil Friday, telling a crowd of well-wishers: "I cry out of joy."
Government agents posing as rebels tricked a gang of armed desperados into handing over 15 hostages during a rendezvous deep in Colombia's unforgiving jungle.
Secret agents posing as leftist rebels hoodwinked insurgents and freed 15 hostages from the jungles of Colombia by pretending an "international mission" was on its way to visit the hostages, authorities in Colombia say.
In a secret operation a U.S. official called "brilliant," the Colombian military infiltrated rebel group FARC and deceived its members into giving up 15 hostages including former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, Colombia's defense ministry said.
Colombia said its military rescued former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, three U.S. military contractors and 11 other hostages from leftist rebels on Wednesday
Relatives and friends of the hundreds of men and women held hostage in the jungles of Colombia held out hope for their release now that the leader of the country's largest leftist guerilla group is dead.
A French-led humanitarian mission faced an uncertain future Friday in its efforts to deliver medical assistance to a high-profile hostage in the Colombian jungle.
A humanitarian mission to help hostages held by Colombian rebels began as a hostage's son said his mother needs a blood transfusion, French President Nicolas Sarkozy's office said Wednesday.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy will send a humanitarian mission to Colombia's jungles to treat ailing hostages held by leftist rebels there, Colombian President Alvaro Uribe said Tuesday.
The Colombian government says it will free jailed guerillas if the rebels free hostages such as Ingrid Betancourt, a French-Colombian citizen whose captivity has attracted worldwide attention.
There is little chance Colombia rebels will free one-time Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt after that country's March 1 attack on a rebel camp inside Ecuador, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Tuesday.
Ecuador's president said Monday that a deal to release political prisoners -- including former Colombian Sen. Ingrid Betancourt -- was nearly complete before a Colombian raid into his country Saturday.
France has renewed its plea to Colombian rebels to free more hostages, particularly politician Ingrid Betancourt, after the release this week of four captives.
Four former Colombian lawmakers arrived in Venezuela on Wednesday after being released by the guerilla group that had held them captive in the jungle for nearly six years.
The same leftist rebel group that released two long-held hostages three days ago has kidnapped six tourists at a remote beach on Colombia's Pacific coast, a spokeswoman for the Colombian navy said Monday.
Colombia's child welfare agency has granted freed hostage Clara Rojas full custody of the 3-year-old son taken from her during her years in a rebel camp in the jungle, the agency's director said Sunday.
Two hostages freed by Colombian rebels have landed in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, where dozens of their friends and family carrying flowers clapped and embraced them.
Preliminary DNA tests indicate a 3-year-old foster child is the son of a woman being held captive by leftist rebels, Colombian officials announced Friday.
A mission to free three hostages held by leftist rebels in Colombia stalled Monday, with the rebels and Colombian authorities trading blame for the delay.
A tense waiting game is under way in Colombia, where the rescue of three hostages -- to be freed by Colombian leftist rebels -- failed to take place Saturday.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said three hostages held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, could be in Venezuela by sundown if an operation to transfer them begins Thursday morning.
The Colombian government has seized five videotapes from suspected members of a rebel group that show a number of hostages, including Colombian Sen. Ingrid Betancourt and three American contractors, a government statement said Thursday.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and a top Colombian guerrilla chief Thursday gave a glimmer of hope that dozens of hostages held by the leftist rebels would be freed.
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