France's Foreign Minister is headed to Colombia to try to secure the release of a French-Colombian politician captured nearly three years ago by guerrillas.

"I think that in the name of human rights, it is absolutely impossible to think for a single instant that we can leave this woman in these conditions," Foreign Minister Philippe Douste Blazy told LCI TV, referring to one-time presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt.

Considered the most famous hostage captured by Colombia's FARC guerrillas,

Betancourt was raised in France and was formerly married to a Frenchman.

She was seized on Feb. 23, 2002 as she campaigned for the presidency.

The French government has tried without success to secure the release of Betancourt, a former student of current Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin.

After signs of a possible breakthrough in December, talks between FARC guerillas and the government of Colombian President Alvaro Uribe appear to have stalled.

The negotiations aimed to secure the release of Betancourt and 58 others held hostage by the guerrilla group.

FARC wants the government to free some 500 prisoners in exchange.