Colombia rebels snub hostage bid
Colombia's Farc rebel group has refused to allow a French mission to deliver emergency medical aid to the kidnapped politician, Ingrid Betancourt.
The mission was "not acceptable" and was launched without the guerrillas' agreement, a Farc statement said.
France has vowed to pursue its mission to aid Ms Betancourt, who holds dual French-Colombian citizenship.
She was kidnapped while campaigning for the Colombian presidency six years ago and is reported to be seriously ill.
"The French medical mission is not acceptable and much less so when it is not the result of a prior agreement," said the online statement, which was issued by Farc's ruling secretariat.
"We do not act under blackmail or under pressure from media campaigns," it added.
Exchange demand
The statement called on Colombia's government to establish a demilitarised zone where hostages could swapped for jailed rebels.
French military jet arrives at an airbase near Bogota (3 March 2008)
The French mission has been grounded outside Bogota since Thursday
Farc wants to exchange 39 high-profile hostages for some 500 rebels currently in prison.
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has consistently rejected the request.
However, his government has promised to suspend military operations against Farc in the area where many of its hostages are believed to be held.
Farc - the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - has been fighting the Colombian government for more than 40 years.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy had announced the French mission after reports Ms Betancourt was seriously ill.
She was pictured looking thin and frail in a recent video.
France also offered to take in rebels released from prison in exchange for the 46-year-old, who has been held in the jungle since 2002.
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Clearly running away (if it becomes feasible) is the best option...
Colombia's Farc rebel group has refused to allow a French mission to deliver emergency medical aid to the kidnapped politician, Ingrid Betancourt.
The mission was "not acceptable" and was launched without the guerrillas' agreement, a Farc statement said.
France has vowed to pursue its mission to aid Ms Betancourt, who holds dual French-Colombian citizenship.
She was kidnapped while campaigning for the Colombian presidency six years ago and is reported to be seriously ill.
"The French medical mission is not acceptable and much less so when it is not the result of a prior agreement," said the online statement, which was issued by Farc's ruling secretariat.
"We do not act under blackmail or under pressure from media campaigns," it added.
Exchange demand
The statement called on Colombia's government to establish a demilitarised zone where hostages could swapped for jailed rebels.
French military jet arrives at an airbase near Bogota (3 March 2008)
The French mission has been grounded outside Bogota since Thursday
Farc wants to exchange 39 high-profile hostages for some 500 rebels currently in prison.
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has consistently rejected the request.
However, his government has promised to suspend military operations against Farc in the area where many of its hostages are believed to be held.
Farc - the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - has been fighting the Colombian government for more than 40 years.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy had announced the French mission after reports Ms Betancourt was seriously ill.
She was pictured looking thin and frail in a recent video.
France also offered to take in rebels released from prison in exchange for the 46-year-old, who has been held in the jungle since 2002.
-------
Clearly running away (if it becomes feasible) is the best option...
