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September 8, 2008 11:16:52 AM CDT

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'Mom, You Don't Have to Cry Anymore'

Posted Jul 2, 08 8:10 PM CDT in World 

(Newser) – Ingrid Betancourt embraced her family today after six years of captivity in the Colombian jungle, the Washington Post reports. "Mom, you don't have to cry anymore," said Betancourt, one of 15 hostages freed from FARC rebels. "This is a miracle." Betancourt appeared thin but healthy at a Bogota military base and wore an ever-present smile. Meanwhile, three US contractors kidnapped in 2003 were on way their back to the US tonight.

Colombian troops rescued 15 hostages in all today, with Betancourt, a former presidential candidate, the most high-profile of the bunch. She called the rescue operation "perfect" and said hostages didn't realize what was going on until their helicopter took off. "The chief of the operation said, 'We are the national army, and you are all free!'" she said. "We started jumping. We screamed. We cried. We couldn't believe it."

Source Washington Post

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Ingrid Betancourt, bottom row second from left, prays with her mother, Yolanda Pulecio, bottom row far left, along with other freed hostages in Bogota.   (AP Photo)
Former hostage Ingrid Betancourt, right, embraces her mother, Yolanda Pulecio, upon arrival to a military base in Bogota.   (AP Photo)
Ingrid Betancourt, left, embraces her husband, Juan Carlos Lecompte, as she arrives to a military base in Bogota.   (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Ingrid Betancourt, right, embraces her mother Yolanda Pulecio as she arrives at a military base after being rescued from six years of captivity, in Bogota.   (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
Ingrid Betancourt, right, is kissed by her mother Yolanda Pulecio upon arrival to a military base in Bogota.   (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
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Colombia  • hostage  • FARC  • Ingrid Betancourt  • Alvaro Uribe


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