He said he enjoyed “the backing of many groups in the capital and the support of international organizations.”

Betancourt was abducted by Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas in the southern part of this Andean nation Feb. 23, 2002, as her long-shot campaign for the presidency was in full swing.
The 44-year-old politician, who studied political science in Paris and holds dual French-Colombian nationality, was kidnapped along with her vice-presidential running mate, Clara Rojas, as they were traveling through the former demilitarized zone where peace talks were held between the FARC and former President Andrés Pastrana’s administration. Three days before she was kidnapped, Pastrana scrapped the talks with the rebels, which had been held for three years, because of systematic violations of the cease-fire by the FARC.
The FARC included Betancourt, the leader of the Green Oxygen Party, and Rojas on a list of 60 politicians, soldiers and police officers they hope to exchange for some 500 imprisoned insurgents, if the two sides are able to cut a deal.
Those hostages of the insurgents are called here “exchangeables,” higher-profile captives than the several hundred others being held at any given time by rebels who for decades have used kidnappings as a major means of raising funds.
Lecompte published a book about his wife, “Buscando a Ingrid,” last year.
In August 2003, Lecompte re-ceived a video made at a rebel camp in which the former presidential candidate appeared dressed in a military uniform and addressed her family.
Betancourt is the daughter of the late Gabriel Betancourt Mejía, who served as both education minister and ambassador to UNESCO, and was a pioneer in international education.
Betancourt’s mother is Yolanda Pulecio, who served in Congress, was ambassador to Guatemala and founded a shelter for street children.
The former presidential candidate’s kidnapping has garnered attention around the world, with Green parties on the five continents demanding her release and French President Jacques Chirac taking up Betancourt’s cause.
More than 1,000 towns and cities in France, Italy and other countries have declared the Colombian politician an honorary citizen.
Betancourt was a finalist in 2004 for the Sakharov Award, the European Union’s premier human rights prize. She was also nominated by French intellectuals for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Figures on the actual number of hostages held by the rebels are not reliable.
According to the government, the FARC has kidnapped some 1,000 people. Some human rights groups, however, put the number at 3,000 to 5,000.