Husband says Colombia raid scuttled release of Betancourt

[Judi Lynn]

Husband says Colombia raid scuttled release of Betancourt
Mon Mar 17, 2008 11:18pm GMT
By Monica Vargas

SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Colombian leftist rebels holding French citizen Ingrid Betancourt hostage would have released her if Colombia's government had not carried out a cross-border raid targeting a rebel camp in Ecuador, her husband said on Monday.

The March 1 military attack killed a senior rebel of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC and set off a crisis that prompted Ecuador and Venezuela to deploy troops to their borders with Colombia before the spat ended.

Betancourt, a dual French-Colombian citizen and former presidential candidate in Colombia, is one of the highest profile hostages among hundreds the FARC has held for years in jungle camps. Guerrillas say they want to exchange about 40 captives for jailed rebel fighters.

The slain FARC commander, Raul Reyes, had been one of the key contacts for countries such as France, which had been working behind the scenes to secure a deal to free Betancourt and other hostages, who include three American contract workers.

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http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKN1763382920080317?rpc=401&