Venezuelan journalist Patricia Poleo states Ingrid Betancourt to be in Venezuela and that she will be handed over shortly by President Hugo Chavez to the French government.

Patricia Poleo, who released this information, assured the radio station La FM that this information had been given to her by military sources n the neighbouring county.

Adn Kronos, an Italian press agency states that Ingrid Betancourt would be released to Cecelia Sarkozy.

The journalist states that Ingrid Betancourt was located in the Lorza region situated close to the Colombian border on the property of the brother of ‘Mono Jojoy’, a FARC leader and that she would have got into the country as a result of co-operation between FARC and the government of Venezuela.

Poleo stated Hugo Chavez, President of Venezuela will hand over Ingrid Betancourt, Clara Rojas and her son Emmanuel to the French Government, and that this would happen during a visit to Venezuela by Cecilia Sarkozy.

Yolanda Pulecio, mother of former Presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, heard this news from the La FM radio station and stated she would not believe much about this possible freeing. But that Ingrid has become a symbol of freedom.

French Government denials

French authorities have denied that Cecila Sarkozy has plans to go to Venezuela.

According to sources in her office, Cecilia Sarkozy “has not planned a visit to either Venezuela or Colombia. “Moreover, these sources deny the involvement of President Sarkozy’s wife, in any moves to free Ingrid Betancourt in the near future.

In the President’s residence, information about Ingrid being already in Elorza, a commune close to the Venezuelan border with Colombia, and about to be freed, has been described as ”rumours”.

“These rumours started after the freeing of the nurses in Libya but Ingrid Betancourt’s situation has nothing to do” with that of the nursing personnel, added sources close to the Elysée Palace.

“We are not confirming anything but we are working fully to obtain freedom for the hostages, in particular for our fellow citizen, Ingrid Betancourt”, declared Pierre-Jerome Henin, assistant press officer at the Elysée.

A spokesman for the Minister of Foreign Affairs spoke of “rumours and speculation”.

The International Federation of Ingrid Betancourt committees (Ficib), representing many support committees, also denied the rumours.

A press release from the Ficib states “No reliable source with which we are in touch, in France and in Colombia has been able to confirm this information given by a Venezuelan journalist”.