Ingrid betancourt espanol

Former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt was captured on 23 February 2002 by the left-wing Farc (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia).

In the years until her release on Wednesday, her fate was followed not only in her home country but also in France as she is also a French citizen.

Ms Betancourt was kidnapped while campaigning in southern Colombia

Ms Betancourt was kidnapped along with her aide, Clara Rojas, by a group of rebels who stopped their car while the women were campaigning in a region of southern Colombia controlled by the Farc.

She had been a severe critic of the Farc while campaigning in the presidential election, and although warned by the government not to travel to the rebel-held area, visited San Vicente del Caguan where she was kidnapped.

Ms Betancourt's husband, Juan Carlos Lecompte, said she had felt she needed to be with the people of San Vicente "during the good and the bad".

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