Betancourt to write play about hostage ordeal

Earlier the 46-year-old former Colombian presidential candidate, who was freed from Marxist rebels in Colombia’s jungle on Wednesday, said she was given a clean bill of health after seven hours of medical tests at a Paris military hospital.

Betancourt, who has dual French-Colombian nationality, said in an interview with Le Journal du Dimanche she would "return to Colombia in a few days."

She added that "meanwhile I want to see France, all of France. But I also want to be alone with my children.... I want to give this time to my family, to the father of my children whom I adore, who fought an extraordinary fight for me."

Asked whether she would write a book about her experience, she replied: "Ill write a play."

"When I was in captivity, I said to myself: People need to understand this, but I cant just write it down the way it happened. So I’ll write a play. That way I will show people what they need to feel"

After her tests Saturday at the Val-de-Grace hospital, she told France 3 television: "The doctors showered me with good news. I have had a number of concerns all these years. Now, I’m totally happy."

She said she was "very, very surprised" not to have any physical side-effects after more than six years of captivity in the hands of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

"The spirit helps you to carry on," said Betancourt, who has repeatedly spoken of her Catholic faith and of a "spiritual protection."

Earlier, her sister Astrid said doctors had recommended rest for Betancourt, who has been rushed from interview to press conference to official reception in the few days since her release.

Snatched from the grip of Marxist FARC rebels in a Colombian army operation on Wednesday along with three US hostages and 11 Colombians, Betancourt arrived in France two days later on board a French presidential plane from Bogota.

President Nicolas Sarkozy on Saturday called his counterparts in Ecuador and Argentina, Rafael Correa and Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, to thank them for their support in the freeing of the hostages.

Bogota says the 15 captives were rescued after Colombian soldiers posing as rebels arrived at a FARC jungle hideout and tricked the guerrillas into handing them over, ostensibly to be transferred to another rebel site.

But Colombia has been forced onto the defensive following a Swiss report saying the bloodless operation was arranged in advance with the help of 20 million dollars (12.7 million euros) paid to bribe the hostages guards.

To counter the claims, Colombia’s military has released a video showing the hostages sobbing with relief aboard a helicopter upon discovering they had been freed.

Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos also strongly denied that foreign nationals had taken part in either the planning or execution of the operation.

But Rodolfo Rios, an attorney for one of the FARC members taken prisoner during the rescue, said his client had told him that "foreign nationals were aboard the rescue helicopter."

Colombian army chief General Mario Montoya also warned the FARC against harming any of the dozens and perhaps hundreds of hostages it still holds.

In her interview on France 3, Betancourt said she did not believe the local commander was paid to hand over the hostages.

"When I saw him on the ground with his hands and feet tied and his eyes blindfolded the expression on his face, on his mouth, it was not of someone who had been bought. He was mortified," she said.

Photo: AP