Paul. So the point is the same, using the USA, as if we are some evil puppetmaster pulling strings, to slander Sarkozy. Does FARC play by any rules when they kidnap and kill? Maybe it should be suggested FARC can be bought so easy. They are crooks. Let France have their day without bringing up us.

William, Atlanta, USA

The paid money was an investement and for sure it will pay off. Invest public money and get personal advantages. This is politics. regards

emma, Montreal, Canada

William in Atlanta, this story does not harm the USA, but does harm Sarkozy's political credibility at a time when he wishes to be seen as Europe's main man. A man who approves of a rescue being staged and backhanders being paid would never want an election to be similarly played out, no?

Paul, Coventry,

of course they payed!who would believe a rambo-like operation took place?and I bet she was "released"before they say.she looked way too good and calm.Of course I'm happy for those released and for their families.Now get a new occupation,will you?and move to a nice house in the French countryside.

tete, buenos aires, argentina

The video released by the Colombian authorities shows clearly that this was a rescue operation. It shows that the release took place within a FARC cocaine cultivated field that produces much more than $20 million per year. This quantity is too small for the largest drug trafficking organisation FARC

Harriet, Medellin, Colombia,

Some US people here cry foul about anti-americanism. Well educated people all around the world know quite a lot about US secret services. So no one would be surprised if the FARC got just what they wanted via a secret deal: ransom money. A lot of people don't believe everything the media reports.

Brendan, Amsterdam, Netherlands

The declarations of 15 previous hostages, a clear video, the declarations of 2 terrorists who are in prison, and the declarations of 3 governments are enough proof that the Colombian military operation was a legitimate rescue operation, carried out without paying money. CONGRATULATIONS COLOMBIA!

Domingo, Granada, Spain

The evil virus from the so called terrorists will be with us for a while and we need resolve to destroy it. It actually doesn't matter how the hostages got their freedom but the fact they are free. All the terrorist from Fidel to Chavez and now to Ortega will be anhilated, there is no other choice..

Pedro Arauz, Managua, Nicaragua

The only one been tricked her are the gullible readers believing what ever the media dishes to them. Two months ago Madam Betancourt was dying, running and giggling all the way to the chopper, on her back a new backpack her health now sprigs to life, doesn’t get a debriefing by the Colombian Army and instead to thanks the “tricksters”, flies to France and says “I owe my life to France”. ... Tricky isn’t it..?

Renee , Perth, Australia

The three Americans were contractors for the US govternment, not Federal Agents. They didn't work for the DEA or FBI.

Haile, Cleveland, US

The US doesn't pay ransoms - publicly or secretly - at least while Bush is President.

John Kantor, St. Petersburg, United States

It is definitively not Sarkozys speeches which have brought help to Betancourt, it was the fact that Uribe wants to remain in power.
It is a shame that so many media coverage are supporting Sarkozys playing to the gallery trying to deflect from his human rights contemptuous politics.

Monica, Paris, France

If the rescue truly utilized "informants" in the FARC rather that elements that had been paid off, the rescuers would have been armed, secondly, the rescuees would have been sworn to secrecy to prevent a purge of informants from the FARC following the rescue. The public is being ill informed

Fred, San Francisco, USA

Colombia's government offered some months ago $100 million for information that produces the liberation of kidnapped people. They have openly publice their payments in previous rescues for it demoralises the FARC. It is in their interest to publicly announce if they had paid. So, this was a rescue.

Marina, Mexico,

I think that, even if money was paid for the release of Betancourt and the other hostages, the fact remains that they are free and in good shape. Besides, if the FARC rebels were willing to trade hostages for money, it just serves as proof that they are a bunch of criminals, not freeedom fighters.

Ramón Cedano, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

To: William, Atlanta, USA
"cheap attempts to slander the USA.
I've come to expect it from Europe."
William - what's with your crazy paranoia ?.
Europe is a place, not a person!
It has a population near a billion.
There are many different countries in it umpteen different opinions.

Ian, Berwick, UK

Linking this to the USA and saying we "stage-managed" it is just another attempt to paint this amazing rescue as dirty by linking it to the USA. I wouldnt have thought even this wonderful story would contain cheap attempts to slander the USA. Ive come to expect it from Europe.

William, Atlanta, USA

John I think the story says the money was 'US financed'. So how does that make it French based tax money?

Rich, Cape, US

Well, for someone like myself who knows colombians very well, there is no doubt that they will never tell the truth about anything. It is obvious that there is some money involved and some traitors inside the farc just like there are traitors inside the government dishonesty runs in colombian blood.

ivan, london, uk

The FARC never had any interest in getting a ransom, Ingrid was a political prisoner.
To suggest a ransom was paid for Ingrid is clearly tactics by narco-terrorist sympathisers who want to destabilize the country and salvage whatever pride they can for this illegal armed group.
Viva Colombia...

Alfonso, London, UK

Its amazing how many entities are willing to have a say or take some credit for this operation. Their stance if the operation had gone badly wrong is a truy intriguing thought

P. Dordoe, London, UK

It won't be the first time that France has paid a ransom. Their hostages in Lebanon, and more recently Ms Florence Aubenas were freed thanks to the generosity of the French government with tax payers' money. Ingrid Betancourt knew the risks and sadly paid a hefty price.

John, Paris,

It all smacks of sour grapes from le petit Sarkozy at being denied the (photo )opportunity to stride Indiana Jones-like into the jungle and return with his prize. Good luck to Betancourt, and give the Colombians some credit.

chris west, Córdoba, Spain

It's very easy to cite an informed source, the colombian people challenge that source to produce a single proof to back up the ransom story. This article fails to report that Colombian goverment had created a fund of 100 million dollars and publicly offered to pay for the hostages liberation.

Andres, Bristol, UK

If any money had exchanged hands in order to free Betancourt, and the others, it's reasonable to think that, by making it known, it would have been more detrimental within Farc -as its own moral would've deepened even further, and future releases more likely. There was no need to stage it.

David, Hemel Hempstead, UK

The use of commando units disguised as humanitarian workers places EVERY humanitarian aid worker at risk. As the founder of MSF, Mr Kouchner should have known better. A disgrace.

IQ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

It doesn't matter whether the rebels releasing her were bribed, either with money or with promises of amnesty, or whether they were just conned into releasing her. The only thing that matters is that this brave freedom fighter is finally free and united with her family. Praise God!

Arthur, Cincinatti, Ohio

"[Sarkozy] had succeeded in convincing Mr Uribe to soften his hardline strategy and refrain from direct assaults that would probably have led to the hostages deaths."

First salvo against Uribe in the next Colombian election? She doesn't waste time, does she?

Fernandez, San Jose, CA

For a government to use trickery is disasterous. Colombia is in serious trouble, not just the remaining (many) hostages.

Uribe will soon lose peaceful control of his country, and having already used treachery may soon turn to despotism.

This is a story of anti-heros.

Greg Lorriman, Leatherhead, UK

It's very easy to claim that ramsom was paid. The "senior French expert" should now be forced to prove his statement. Once governments start to pay ramsom the flood gates are opened and kidnapping shall increase.

Nona, New York City, USA

so you tell us some hidden money could circulate in this jungle ?
these FARC people would accept it ? my god, what a dreadful
thing this would be ! do they know it is totally against the law ?

fletcher, paris, france

"...money had probably been used in an operation to infiltrate the Farc leadership." Saying this is a nice way to get attention when the world is tuned in. They are just words though; easy, cheap skepticism. Without any evidence to justify the suspicion it's more probable the rescue was as reported.

Ben, Bloomington, USA

Well of course no one with a brain
can believe there wasn't outside money buying off the rebels !

wally, courtenay , canada