BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) - Rescued hostage Ingrid Betancourt said she will travel to France on Thursday and meet President Nicolas Sarkozy now that she is free after more than six years of captivity among Colombian rebels.
The former Colombian presidential candidate, who also holds French citizenship, said she is probably alive today thanks to efforts by the French to press for her cause.
hopes to help work toward reconciliation in Colombia.

`My deepest congratulations to the Colombian security forces, who executed a brilliant operation to successfully free the hostages. . . . You could hear the cheers throughout the building when we announced the success of the rescue.'
-- ADM. JAMES STAVRIDIS, commander, U.S. Southern Command
Colombian operation. We have had a great relationship with the Colombian military for a number of years. But today's success was a Colombian success.'

IT WAS an ending happier than any Hollywood director would dare to dream up. After years of captivity at the hands of left-wing FARC guerrillas,

BOGOTA (AFP) — French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt and 14 other hostages were rescued from Marxist FARC guerrillas Wednesday by Colombian