French FM in Quito to relaunch hostage rescue

QUITO, April 30 (AFP):

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner met with President Rafael Correa Tuesday, in his bid to relaunch a rescue mission for hostages held by Colombian rebels, including French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt. Kouchner’s visit followed a meeting Monday with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe in Bogota, French Embassy officials told AFP. Betancourt, 46, is a six-year captive of the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebel group that is seeking a deal with Uribe to swap some 40 hostages for 500 jailed rebels.