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Daring Rescue Operation Frees Hostages in the Colombian Jungle
In a dramatic rescue operation, Colombian soldiers in disguise freed French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt, three Americans, and 11 other hostages who had been held in captivity in the Colombian jungle for years.
Betancourt was born in Colombia but grew up in France. She was kidnapped six years ago, in 2002, while she campaigned for the Colombian presidency. Her abductors were members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as FARC, a group of guerrilla fighters that have been trying to overthrow the Colombian government for four decades.
FARC kidnapped Ms. Betancourt in order to try to get the Colombian government to release rebel fighters who had been captured over the years. They threatened to kill the hostages if the military attempted to rescue them.
Ms. Betancourt's family, living in France, had never given up hope that she would someday return to safety. Through her children's ceaseless work to free her, Ms. Betancourt had become a symbol of bravery and endurance to the French people. People in France and around the world celebrated when they learned of her release.
Ms. Betancourt was the most famous hostage held by the FARC. However, the FARC still holds as many as 700 more people. Upon gaining her freedom, Ms. Betancourt immediately urged the FARC to stop fighting and to release all of the other prisoners.
I'm Michelle and that's what happened in the world this week.
Photo: AP
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