Colombian President Alvaro Uribe said Friday that he would pay FARC rebels rewards from a fund of 100 million U.S. dollars for releasing any of hundreds of hostages they held for years, including politician Ingrid Betancourt.
Betancourt, former Colombian presidential candidate, was kidnapped by FARC on Feb. 23, 2002 in southern Colombia.
The ransom offer came after Uribe signed a decree Thursday to free the imprisoned FARC troops in exchange for FARC-held hostages, said the high commissioner for Peace, Luis Carlos Restrepo, calling the decision "a fast and immediate mechanism under the humanitarian accord."
"I call on the FARC to release them ... You will receive rewards: we are going to resolve the juridical problems of the imprisoned rebels and they will be freed with guarantees," Uribe said.
Uribe was accused of messing up Betancourt's release as he decided to enter the Ecuadorian territory and killed 25 people in a March 1st raid on a FARC base there.
Colombian politician Clara Rojas, recently released by FARC after being held hostage for six years, Friday urged FARC to free Betancourt.
"I ask FARC with my soul and my heart to do everything possible to inform Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez of Betancourt's location so that the Red Cross will help release her," said Rojas, former vice presidential candidate and Betancourt's running mate.
People from southeastern Guaviare province said priests have seen Betancourt and said she is in bad condition and likely to die any moment from Leishmaniasis and Hepatitis B.
Meanwhile, family members of Betancourt, also appealed to the president to help release Betancourt.
"I consider the government's intentions as something positive," said Betancourt's ex-husband Fabrice Delloyce to reporters.
Source: Xinhua
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