Ingrid Betancourt, the French-Colombian politician held hostage by Farc rebels for more than six years, has thanked the Colombian army for rescuing her.

Television images from a military base near the Colombian capital, Bogota, showed Betancourt, who appeared to be in good health, embracing her mother and husband after landing at the base.

“Thanks to all Colombians and those worldwide who made it such that we are alive,” she said at a news conference.

Three US hostages and 11 Colombian soldiers were also freed on Wednesday in a “special intelligence operation”, Juan Manuel Santos, the Colombian defence minister, said.

[Source]