Yolanda Pukecio, mother of former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, kidnapped since February 2002 by FARC, asked the Colombian President Alvaro Uribe not to rescue hostages held by them through military means.

Ms Pulecio rejected statements by Justice and Interior Minister Sabas Pretelt who hade declared that if the guerrilla group would not agree to talk to free hostages the government would try to rescue them by force.

Ingrid's mother rejected in a statement "an armed violent rescue" and stated, " The only way to free the hostages is by a humanitarian agreement".

"No government can guarantee that a rescue by military means would mean the safe return of hostages to their homes. That is why, once again, as has happened many times we object as a family to the freeing of Ingrid in a way that gives no guarantees", she said on RCN Radio, the local radio station.

Ms Pulecio stated " a military rescue is a game of Russian roulette where the only winner would be President Uribe because if the hostages are freed alive, that will be a success and if Ingrid dies, it will be said that the guerrilla killed her and that would get rid of once and for all " the stone in Uribe's shoe".

Former Senator Betancourt, aged 43 years is one of 59 politicians, soldiers and police kidnapped in the last seven years by FARC. The leader of the Green Party who has French -Colombian nationality was kidnapped on February 23, 2002 in the jungle of the Caqueta region, three days after peace talks broke down between the government and the rebel group.

FARC has included Ingrid in the list of those to be 'exchanged' for some 500 imprisoned rebels, once a humanitarian agreement is reached. Her liberation has been demanded by the Green Party in many countries and by Jacques Chirac, the President of France while over 1400 municipalities in France, Italy, Ireland, Belgium and other countries have made her an honorary citizen.