From: wolda002@umn.edu
Date: Sat Jul 05 2008 - 13:03:49 EDT
US denies ransom payout for hostage release: ambassador
20 hours ago
BOGOTA (AFP) — The United States government paid nothing for the release
this week of 15 hostages held by leftist guerrillas in the Colombian
jungle, the US ambassador to Bogota said on Friday.
Ambassador William Brownfield issued the denial in response to a radio
report that the daring rescue of the hostages, including high-profile
French Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt and three Americans, was
obtained with a 20 million dollar ransom payout.
"How much did we give ... for the release of the three North-American
hostages? Zero ... Zero. Nothing. Not one dollar, not one peso, not one
euro. Absolutely nothing," Brownfield told reporters.
The Swiss radio station Radio Suisse Romande reported that the bloodless
release of the captives was obtained by paying 20 million dollars to the
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
The hostages "were in reality ransomed for a high price, and the whole
operation afterwards was a set-up," the radio's French-language channel
said.
Colombian military commander Freddy Padilla also denied that money was paid
out, telling private radio that Colombia "did not pay a single cent."
The hostages were rescued Wednesday after Colombian soldiers disguised as
rebels arrived at a FARC jungle hideout and said they had come to transport
them by helicopter to another FARC location, officials said. Hosted by
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