BOGOTA, July 6 (Xinhua) -- Colombian Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos has accused Swiss diplomat Jean Paul Gontard of giving 500,000 U.S. dollars, which were seized in Costa Rica, to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), local daily El Tiempo said Sunday.
"The only thing I want to ask Mr. Gontard is why he appears in the emails of Raul Reyes as bearer of the 500,000 dollars," Santos said.
Raul Reyes was the second-in-command of the FARC and was killed in an attack launched by the Colombian army in Ecuadorian territory, which provoked a diplomatic crisis between the two countries.
Santos also denied that the Colombian government had paid for the release of the 15 hostages, who, including Colombian former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, were rescued by the Colombian army from the FARC on Wednesday.
Swiss radio station Suisse Romanda had said the FARC received 20 million dollars for releasing the hostages, but Santos said that is "absolutely false."
Santos said that operation "Jaque" was designed by a Colombian military intelligence agent, which led the FARC's guard in charge of the hostages believe there was an order to transfer the hostages to FARC leader Alfonso Cano.
Then the Colombian military "made a kind of movie set to practice the plan," Santos said.
Regarding the future of the FARC, Santos said "I expect that Alonso Cano will realize that if he does not negotiate now, later it will be more difficult."
Colombian army rescues 15 FARC hostages
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French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt (front row, 4th L) poses with other released hostages, her mother Yolanda Pulecio (front row, 3rd L) and members of the Colombian military at Catam military airport in Bogota July 2, 2008. (Xinhua/Retuers Photo)
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BOGOTA, July 2 (Xinhua) -- The Colombian government said Wednesday that its army has rescued 15 hostages, including former presidency candidate Ingrid Betancourt held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
Colombian Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos told reporters that the hostages, also including three U.S. military advisers and11 Colombian soldiers, were rescued Wednesday in an "unprecedented" operation in the southern Colombian province of Guaviare. Full story
U.S. congratulates Colombia for hostage rescue
WASHINGTON, July 2 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush called his Colombian counterpart Alvaro Uribe on Wednesday for the rescue of 15 hostages held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels, the White House said.
"President Bush congratulated President Uribe, telling him he is a 'strong leader'," U.S. National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said. Full story
Betancourt says hostage rescue operation "perfect"
BOGOTA, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Colombian former presidency candidate Ingrid Betancourt described Wednesday the rescue operation which freed her and 14 other hostages from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) as "perfect."
"Thank you, the army of my Colombian homeland ... thanks for your faultless operation. The operation was perfect," she said during an emotional speech at a military base in Bogota. Full story
