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Jubilant video of Betancourt freedom released

05/07/2008

A new video filmed shortly after Ingrid Betancourt learned of her rescue by special forces has been released.

Former Colombian presidential candidate and French citizen Ms Betancourt had been held by the Farc rebels since 2002 and there have been fears over her poor health during her time in captivity.

Footage shows how commandoes dressed as civilians fooled the rebels into letting them take the hostages for treatment. They then boarded a civilian helicopter and soon after they took to the air they informed the hostages that they had been rescued.

The video goes blank for a period in which it has been claimed a struggle with Farc men took place on board.

Jubilant scenes are then witnessed on the plane with hostages hugging each other and jumping for joy in what Ms Betancourt feared could have brought the plane down.

The former Colombian political leader arrived in France yesterday where she was greeted by President Sarkozy and his wife. She thanked France for its support in negotiations between the Colombian government and the Marxist revolutionary group.

Meanwhile, the Colombian defence minister Juan Manuel Santos has rejected suggestions that a ransom had been paid for the release and also said that no foreign agents had been involved in the operation.

Mr Santos stated that payments for information about the Farc were part of a longstanding policy but rejected reports that between £10 million and £50 million had been paid for the high-profile hostage's release.