Release of hostages

Colombian, French presidents discuss hostage release by FARC

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Xinhua -- Colombian President Alvaro Uribe met with French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy on Tuesday to discuss the release of hostages held by Colombia's rebel group -- the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), in New York, news reaching here from the UN headquarters said.

Uribe told reporters that Sarkozy had thanked him for freeing Rodrigo Granda, known as FARC's foreign minister, at France's request, during their meeting at the sidelines of the 62nd United Nations General Assembly meeting.

Granda is trying to reach a humanitarian accord, an agreement to free rebels held in Colombian jails in exchange for the release of FARC captives. France is keen to help reach such an accord because Ingrid Betancourt, a French citizen and former Colombian presidential candidate,is currently held by FARC.

Hugo Chavez, president of the neighboring Venezuela, is also trying to broker a deal to free the hostages held by FARC, including dozens more Colombians, three U.S. citizens and Betancourt, who has been held since 2002.