Colombian troops discovered a rebel camp where former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt had been held as late as April, the Colombian military said Thursday, according to dpa. Troops discovered the camp after police officer Jhon Pinchao escaped from the location on April 28. Pinchao recognized the site in pictures taken by the troops, military commander Fredy Padilla said. Padilla said hair samples, clothing and documents were recovered from the camp, which had been operated by the leftwing Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in south-east Colombia. Pinchao, who had been held for nine years, confirmed for the first time in years that Betancourt was still alive and well. Betancourt, who has French and Colombian citizenship, was kidnapped in February 2002 during her presidential campaign. Though Pinchao was only discovered roaming the jungle on May 15 by a police patrol, Padilla said the military had already launched a rescue operation three days after Pinchao escaped the camp. The troops were apparently closing in on FARC rebels transporting Betancourt - the wife of a rebel questioned during the operation told them that a group of hostages, including one named Ingrid, had been holed up in the same region. FARC is still holding 56 hostages and hopes to exchange them for leftwing rebels held in Colombian jails.
