Colombia leaders call ransom story 'absolutely false'; a new view of Betancourt

"Colombian authorities sought over the weekend to discredit a Swiss academic and former intermediary in talks with a left-wing rebel group who has been linked to a disputed report that officials paid $20 million for last week's release of 15 high-profile hostages," write the L.A. Times' Patrick McDonnell and Chris Kraul.

A Colombian government official who asked to remain unnamed said Sunday that authorities suspect that Geneva-based Jean Pierre Gontard was the source for the Swiss radio report last week stating that officials paid a ransom for the release of the hostages, as we reported Friday.

Officials have denied that any ransom was paid and said the rescue was based on subterfuge and infiltration of the rebel high command. The notion of paying ransom is extremely sensitive in Colombia, since U.S. and Colombian authorities have labeled the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, a terrorist group and have ruled out payments to terrorists.

Meanwhile, this Houston Chronicle story says of liberated hostage Ingrid Betancourt: "Before she was kidnapped, Betancourt was widely viewed here as a spoiled, arrogant, if well-meaning, politician. But the courage, loyalty and defiance she displayed during six years as a rebel hostage has turned her into the toast of Colombia and much of the world."

-- Deborah Bonello in Mexico City

Photo: Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe pauses as former hostage Ingrid Betancourt wipes her eyes during a news conference at the presidential palace in Bogota on Wednesday.

Credit:  Fernando Vergara / Associated Press.

Comments

[David Armoogan]

Viva Uribe! We here in Venezuela are loving the news from Colombia of Ingridx`s release from captivity, but for how ithas putforward The colombian prez`s strategy and highlighted Chavez weak rhetoric of dealing with criminals as he does here. We need someone like Uribe, we are tired of B:S.