LIMA, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- President Alan Garcia said Thursday he supports making Ingrid Betancourt, a former Colombian rebel hostage, a candidate for the Noble Peace Prize.

    "We know (Betancourt) is for many people a symbol of hope and freedom. That is why I join the idea and proposal of Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, " Garcia said during Betancourt's visit to Peru.

    Bachelet proposed on Wednesday that Betancourt become a candidate of the peace laureate.

    Garcia received Betancourt at the Government Palace and said that all Latin American countries should join in demanding the release of the hostages held by the Colombian guerillas.

    "We, all the Latin Americans, have to joint our voices, maybe through our governments, to demand the release of the hostages held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC)," Garcia said.

    Betancourt, a former presidential candidate in Colombia, was kidnapped by the FARC in 2002, and was rescued on July 2 with 14 other hostages.

    She has since been working for the freedom of hundreds of hostages held by the FARC, including dozens of high-profile people the rebels want to swap for about 500 of its members held in government jails.