Colombia: Rebels push for hostage release

May 25,2007 00:00 by UPI

BOGOTA - Colombian rebels have asked new French President Nicolas Sarkozy to help work out a deal for the release of French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt.

Betancourt was abducted by the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, in 2002.

A FARC representative said Sarkozy could help broker a deal for the release of Betancourt and other hostages, El Tiempo reported online Thursday.

FARC uses kidnapping and drug trafficking to fund its decades-long war against Colombian forces and right-wing paramilitary groups.