Even if Yolanda Pulecio, mother of Ingrid Betancourt, does not yet dare to appear to be "too optimistic", the latest contacts, established by the French government envoy with her daughter's kidnappers, has renewed her hopes. Twice in two months, a representative, sent especially by the French government from Paris, met Raul Reyes, spokesman for FARC to discuss the hostage issue.

The guerrillas had confirmed the information to the media in Ecuador: Carlos Lozano, director of the weekly communist paper, Voz, revealed this and he is an expert on negotiations with FARC.

" This time, matters are been taken seriously", said Yolanda Pulecio, who has had her hopes raised and dashed during the last three and a half years.

The latest meeting took place at the beginning of the month in a region of the Amazon near the border between Ecuador and Colombia. "Something is happening", states Carlos Lozano. La Hora, the daily paper in Ecuador goes further; a freeing of "several" hostages for imprisoned rebels could take place "without delay", according to Tuesday's edition, based on its contacts with FARC.

Latest official statements, both from the guerrillas and the Colombian government are much more hopeful. Besides Ingrid Betancourt, FARC hold 55 military, police and elected representatives, as well as three American sub-contractors. Until now FRAC have refused to free them, as a group, except in exchange for several hundreds of their imprisoned members, and they are demanding a pre-condition to negotiations: the demilitarisation for a month of two remote villages in the Andes Mountains.

For its part, the government led by President Alvaro Uribe is offering to hold discussions in a military school for ten days. The families hope that the French envoy will be able to encourage both sides to compromise.

Fabiola Perdomo who is related to a kidnapped deputy is worried." If the envoy's actions are not endorsed by the Colombian government, it could be a complete waste of effort".