Former hostages held in Iraq, Florence Aubenas and Christian Chesnot, accompanied by singer Renaud came together to show support for Ingrid Betancourt, held hostage since February 2002 in Colombia by FARC guerrillas. They accompanied the members of the Ingrid Betancourt support committee that handed in to the Department of Foreign Affairs 95,000 signatures demanding the liberation of the French-Colombian hostage.

This committee has given its "total support" to efforts undertaking by the French government to obtain freedom for hostages in Colombia among them Ingrid Betancourt, 42 years, and former Green presidential candidate.

Marxist guerrilla group FARC has held the young woman since 23 February 2002.

"We think about her, we want her to return", said Florence Aubenas. "She is

a person, somewhere, in a cage, used as a bargaining chip, it is awful", stated the journalist who works with French newspaper Liberation who was detained for 157 days with her guide-interpreter Hussein Hanoun.

"The worst thing for a hostage is the feeling of being forgotten", explained Christian Chesnot.

"There must be the same campaign for Ingrid as there was for Florence", Renaud declared. "The media, citizens and artistes must campaign. Otherwise we should be ashamed!"

Media reports about recent talks between a French government envoy and FARC has caused tension between Paris and Bogotá. Colombia criticised "interference" in its internal affairs. Paris maintained they had got the agreement of Bogotá for its actions, a t the same time refusing to conform an envoy's visit with FARC.

The Foreign Office stated on Tuesday that French authorities were "totally committed" to obtaining freedom for Ingrid Betancourt through "a humanitarian agreement" but had to maintain the "greatest discretion" about this issue.

The support committee plan a "sit-in" on Saturday in front of the residence of the Colombian Ambassador in Paris and will organise an evening of support on 24 October at the Rond Point Theatre " based on the campaign organised" for Florence Aubenas and Hussein Hanoun.