Betancourt back in the arms of her family

Source: Agencies  |   2008-7-4  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

Betancourt (center) embraces her son Lorenzo and daughter Melanie for the first time in six years, saying the thought of them helped her stay alive. More in photo gallery

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THE children of Ingrid Betancourt embraced their mother for the first time in six years yesterday, a day after the former presidential candidate was freed from rebel captivity by Colombia's government.

"Nirvana, paradise. That must be very similar to what I feel at this moment," Betancourt told reporters as she fought back tears, her son bending over to kiss her and her daughter clinging tightly to her arm.

The two were children when she was seized, and have now grown into young adults. "They are so different and so similar at the same time," she said.

France's government flew the children, Lorenzo and Melanie, to meet Betancourt, a dual citizen whose capture by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, became a cause celebre in the nation where she spent her childhood.

The office of President Nicolas Sarkozy said Betancourt would arrive in Paris today. Betancourt said earlier she was probably alive thanks to France's efforts on her behalf.

"I want to tell President Sarkozy, and through him all the French people, that they were our support, our light," Betancourt said yesterday. "It's time for me to thank the French, to tell them I admire them, that I feel proud to be French as well."

Daring rescue

The military freed her in a daring helicopter rescue along with three Americans and 11 Colombian hostages.

Sarkozy's chief of staff, Claude Gueant, told French TV that France "did not take part" in the operation and only learned of it 15 minutes before the first Colombian press reports.

Betancourt, who was kidnapped six years ago while campaigning for the presidency, called for the rebels to release more captives and said she hopes to help work toward reconciliation in Colombia. She said it was too soon to say if she would get involved in Colombian politics again, and wanted to discuss her plans with her family first.