Betancourt to sue Colombia for millions over hostage ordeal

Ingrid Betancourt, the Colombian politician who spent six years as a hostage of Marxist guerillas Farc, will reportedly demand 5 million euros compensation from Bogota for financial and psychological damages.

Reuters

But Colombia's Defence Ministry said Betancourt, a 48-year-old dual French-Colombian national, had no reason to blame the government for her kidnapping.

"The Defence Ministry is surprised and upset by [Betancourt's suit], all the more due to the effort and zeal with which our public forces planned and executed the rescue," a ministry statement said.

State security officials had warned Betancourt against entering the battle-stricken area, in southern Caqueta province, because it was filled with Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia rebels at the time.

Betancourt was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize after her rescue and was seen briefly as a viable candidate in this year's presidential vote.

She returned to Colombia last week for several hours to participate in a ceremony celebrating the two-year anniversary of the military's "Operation Jaque" that freed her and 14 other hostages.

Betancourt was abducted in the midst of her presidential campaign in February 2002 and ultimately became a global symbol of the guerillas' hostages. She says she still suffers from the ordeal.

"I always have the impression that I am fine, calm and happy, and suddenly I mention something, and the sadness, tears and angst come back," she told AFP.

"I am not yet in control of my emotions to the degree I would like."

Betancourt intends to recount the experience in a memoir due to be published in September.