Relatives of kidnapped Colombian policemen and soldiers named the country's former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt "chancellor" on Sunday and asked her to be their representative to push ahead efforts to free their loved ones.
Betancourt, who was kidnapped by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in 2002, was rescued on July 2 together with another 14 hostages in FARC hands.
The former presidential candidate, who holds both Colombian and French citizenship, met with relatives of the hostages in the residence of French Ambassador to Colombia Jean Michel Marlaud in northern Bogota.
Former congressman Oscar Tulio Lizcano, who also attended the meeting, said the government and FARC should engage in a dialogue to free those "that are rotting in the jungle."
Lizcano said prisoner swap is a better option than carrying out rescue operations.
Betancourt met Colombian President Alvaro Uribe late Saturday before embarking on a tour to Ecuador, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Bolivia and possibly Venezuela to rally support for the release of hostages in FARC captivity.
The FARC currently holds dozens of high-profile hostages, whom the rebel group has intended to swap for some 500 of its members held in government jails.
Apart from the prominent hostages, the FARC also holds 700 others, mainly Colombian police officers and soldiers.
Source:Xinhua
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