Freed Betancourt heads to France

---

French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt is due in Paris, two days after her dramatic release from captivity in the Colombian jungle, BBC reports.

The former hostage will be met by President Nicolas Sarkozy, who campaigned for her release, before attending a lavish public welcome.

She said she was going to France to thank its people for their support and share "this moment of her happiness".

She was freed with 14 other captives in an undercover operation.

They were rescued without a shot being fired as the left-wing Farc movement rebels were tricked into handing them over.

Ms Betancourt was born in Colombia but grew up and studied in France.

President Sarkozy will meet her on arrival at a military airfield near Paris and take her to the Elysee Palace, his residence, for an official ceremony.

The BBC's Jonny Dymond in Paris says coverage of her liberation and subsequent movements has been pretty much non-stop on French TV and radio.

"I want to come to France to thank all French people and share with them this moment of happiness," she said as she left Bogota Thursday.

She also told reporters that Colombia's Farc guerrillas now had the opportunity to hand over their remaining hostages and take the path towards peace.

"I hope that the Farc understands that this is the time to release all its hostages and use this release, this act, not only to improve its now tarnished image, but especially for us here in Colombia, to try to make this the first step towards a negotiated peace."