Betancourt returning to Colombia ‘in a few days'

PARIS: Former hostage Ingrid Betancourt has said, “she would return to Colombia in a few days to write a play about her experience after being held in the jungle for six years.”

Earlier the 46-year-old former hostage, who was freed on Wednesday, said she had been given a clean bill of health after seven hours of medical tests at a Paris military hospital.

Betancourt told Le Journal du Dimanche, “I shall return to Colombia in a few days. Meanwhile I want to see France, all of France. But I also want to be alone with my children ... I want to give this time to my family, to the father of my children whom I adore, who fought an extraordinary fight for me.”

Asked whether she would write a book about her experience, she replied, “I will write a play.”

She said she was ‘very, very surprised’ not to have any physical side-effects after more than six years of captivity in the hands of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

“The spirit helps you to carry on”, said Betancourt, who has often spoken of her Catholic faith and of a "spiritual protection.”

Earlier, her sister Astrid that the results of the tests were ‘satisfactory’, stressing that the doctors had recommended rest for Betancourt, who has faced numerous interviews, press conferences and official receptions.

Betancourt arrived in France two days later on board a French plane from Bogota.