Betancourt Checks Into A Hospital For Medical Check-Up In Paris

Paris, France (AHN) - Ingrid Betancourt checked in to a hospital on Saturday in Paris for health tests, according to the reports.

Betancourt, who is a former Colombian presidential candidate, was held captive by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels in the Colombian jungle and was freed this week.

The 46-year-old was reported entering the Val-de-Grace military clinic in Paris early on Saturday, for tests to reveal, if any, medical problems after she was held as a hostage for six years.

The reports suggested that Betancourt looked frail as some said that she may have suffered ill health, including hepatitis.

She was freed along with 14 other captives, including three American hostages and 11 Colombians, after the Marxist FARC rebels were tricked into giving them up to undercover Colombian army personnel.

Colombian military personnel posed as as members of a non-governmental organization to handing the hostages over to them.

"I am so happy to breathe the air of France. I owe France everything," Betancourt was quoted as saying by BBC news after she was flown in to Paris to meet President Nicolas Sarkozy.

She grew up and raised her family in Paris, returned to Colombia in 1989, became a senator in 1998 and was abducted by the rebels in 2002.

The rescue operation was filmed and the video was released by the Colombian government after the daring operation.

Meanwhile, reports have emerged accusing the Colombian authorities of having paid ransom to free the captives, which the government has denied.