BOGOTA, May 24 (UPI) -- Colombian rebels have asked new French President Nicolas Sarkozy to help work out a deal for the release of French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt.
Betancourt was abducted by the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, in 2002.
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A FARC representative said Sarkozy could help broker a deal for the release of Betancourt and other hostages, El Tiempo reported online Thursday.
FARC uses kidnapping and drug trafficking to fund its decades-long war against Colombian forces and right-wing paramilitary groups.