French jet on standby for Betancourt release

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Reuters

French jet on standby for Betancourt release
Sun Mar 30, 2008 1:32pm BST

PARIS (Reuters) - France has sent a jet to French Guyana to be ready to evacuate French-Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt in the event of a deal between Colombia and rebels holding her, President Nicolas Sarkozy's office said on Sunday.

"The aircraft is carrying medical equipment," a spokesman said.

The Falcon 900 business jet, which normally accompanies Sarkozy on overseas trips, touched down at an airfield near French Guyana's capital Cayenne late on Saturday and has been "pre-positioned" as a standby measure, his office said.

The spokesman said the plane would stay until Monday when it would be replaced by another fully equipped medical aircraft.

Colombia said on Saturday France would be willing to take in former guerrilla fighters as part of a possible deal to free scores of hostages, including Betancourt.



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