Colombia hostage mission fails
A European humanitarian mission to Colombia is returning after one week, after failing to secure the release of hostages held by leftwing rebels.
The French foreign ministry made the announcement on behalf of the three countries participating in the mission – France, Switzerland and Spain.
“It can no longer be justified to keep the medical mission there [in Colombia]. It will leave Colombia shortly,” the statement said.
Former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, a French-Colombian dual national, is among an estimated 750 hostages who have been held captive by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) for years.
The statement said France, Switzerland and Spain especially regretted Farc’s decision to reject the mission because it came after Farc itself had admitted that Betancourt’s health had deteriorated badly.
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