MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Sarkozy appeals directly to FARC for release of Betancourt

President Nicolas Sarkozy

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has implored Colombia's rebel group FARC to free ailing hostage Ingrid Betancourt, saying she is in danger of dying. Mr Sarkozy has also announced a French mission to Colombia to try to get access to the hostage.

Sarkozy called Colombian President Alvaro Uribe to say France was sending a humanitarian mission "without delay to contact the FARC rebels and obtain access to our compatriot," his office said. Betancourt, held for more than six years in the jungle, has both French and Colombian nationality. In Bogota, Uribe said Colombian authorities would suspend military operations in any zone where the mission would be traveling, as France requested. The French president's office did not say when the mission would leave. Sarkozy's office said it would not comment on timing. "President Sarkozy has told me the humanitarian mission is in movement to attend to the health of the hostages," Uribe said. "Once authorities are informed by the mission about the coordinates ... we will allow this mission to do its work." In a televised message to rebel leader Manuel Marulanda, Mr Sarkozy said the latest information about the health of Betancourt is "profoundly alarming". "Ingrid is in danger of imminent death" he said. "Since only a decision from you to save this woman from death is needed ... Take this decision. Free Ingrid Betancourt," he told the chief of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC. Betancourt is reportedly suffering from Hepatitis B, malaria and a parasitic tropical skin disease. Getting her freed has become a cause celebre in France and Latinamerican countries. Any successful mission to treat the captives would be the first contact for years with some of the hostages, whom FARC rebels say they want to exchange for jailed guerrilla fighters. Attempts to secure a deal to free hostages, who also include three US contractors, are deadlocked over a rebel demand that Uribe demilitarize an area in the south of Colombia for a safe haven to facilitate talks. However FARC has released six captives in a deal brokered by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.