MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Growing fears for the life of FARC hostage Betancourt

Ingrid Betancourt hostage of the FARC

Former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt hostage of the FARC guerrilla group since 2002 is again chained following an aborted attempt to escape. The French-Colombian national also desperately needs a blood transfusion because of the several ills she's suffering report the Bogotá and Caracas press.

According to Colombia's Caracol broadcasting system reporting from the Guaviare department, where apparently she's been held hostage, Ingrid refuses to eat and to take the medicines she has been prescribed. Caracol sources who talked on condition they were not identified fearing reprisals from FARC guerrillas said she's suffering of malaria, hepatitis B, tropical parasitic leishmaniasis and severe malnutrition plus a strong depression particularly after having been recaptured. The same sources said that according to FARC members in Guaviare, an area under influence of the guerrillas, the hostage is currently suffering a severe case of diarrhea and vomits. Apparently Ms Betancourt escorted by tens of guerrillas was taken to a municipal clinic in search of medical attention given her extremely delicate condition. Colombia's ombudsman Volmar Perez revealed last week he had reliable information that Ms Betancourt was suffering from hepatitis B and leishmaniasis, which was also confirmed by other hostages released at the end of February. Radio Caracol said that the former candidate, 46, recently tried again to escape crossing a river but was captured and again chained, as she appears in pictures recently released when guerrilla messengers were captured by the Colombian Army. France has become increasingly involved in her release with a special medical evacuation aircraft on stand by to fly her to Paris if Ms Betancourt is finally released. However there are growing fears that Ms Betancourt could die while in hands of the FARC, considered the most valuable of hostages for any possible exchange of prisoners with the Colombian government.