French consul in Columbia Noël Saez negotiated after 2002 on behalf of the French government for the release of Ingrid Betancourt from FARC captivity. His new book “L’émissaire” takes a closer look at the woman and her release.
In this edition: former hostage Ingrid Betancourt's image is tarnished by a new book, President of Gabon Omar Bongo's assets are frozen by a court, the Michelin guide celebrates its hundredth birthday and the French regional map may be redrawn.
The heroic status of former hostage Ingrid Betancourt has been tarnished after a book published by fellow captives accuses her of being domineering, even treacherous.The writers say the Franco-Colombian was "a selfish, domineering woman."
In this edition we take a tour of the news that made headlines across the Americas in 2008; Cuba celebrates 50 years of its ongoing revolution; and a portrait of all-round art hero Luis Felipe Noe at home in Buenos Aires.
Ingrid Betancourt says she will leave public life for a while to write a memoir of the more than six years she spent as a hostage of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. Betancourt was freed in July by a Colombian military operation.
A former guerilla with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia who helped free a legislator being held hostage has arrived in France. He is the first to accept a French offer to welcome rebel defectors who are not wanted for crimes in Colombia.
Wilson Bueno alias "Isaza", a former FARC guerilla who deserted and freed a hostage, is due to travel to France shortly with ex-hostage Ingrid Betancourt. The man was promised a reward and asylum in France.
Ingrid Betancourt, the French-Colombian politician snatched by FARC rebels while running for president in 2002 and held hostage for six years before being released in July, paid a surprise visit to Colombia on Saturday.
Thousands marched Friday in Colombia's main cities and as far away as Paris and Beijing, to protest kidnappings carried out by FARC rebels during a 44-year-old insurgency. Former hostage Ingrid Betancourt led the Madrid march.
