Kouchner's bid to free Betancourt

France’s top diplomat Bernard Kouchner is undertaking delicate negotiations with three South American countries in a bid to free Ingrid Betancourt, held hostage by Farc guerrillas in Colombia since 2002.

Relations are rocky between Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela and guerrillas head Ivan Marquez has said there will be no more negotiation over hostages.

Colombian president Alvaro Uribe has said he opposes any mediation by Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez who he has accused of interfering in Colombian affairs.

However France considers Chavez’s help has been instrumental in advances made so far – proof that hostages including Ms Betancourt are alive and the release of six of them.

“We have to tell him how necessary he is and that we count on him,” French diplomatic sources said.

Chavez has admitted he has lost contact with Farc and that chances of negotiation are now very complex. “We had a contacts system in place, but it has been pulverised.”

Relations between Colombia and Ecuador are even more strained.

In March Ecuador broke diplomatic ties with Colombia after an attack by Colombian armies on Ecuadorian territory during which Farc number two Raul Reyes was killed.

Photo: Photos12/Jean-Marie Périer