Correa said the outcome of the recent rescue of former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and others from leftist rebels could have ended badly for the hostages, El Comercio reported Tuesday.

Previous rescue attempts have ended with rebels from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, with the Spanish acronym FARC, killing the hostages.

Ecuador and Colombia are still at odds over Colombia's decision earlier this year to send forces into Ecuadorian territory to kill a FARC commander.