Betancourt, 3 Americans freed

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By Steve Salisbury

BOGOTA, Colombia | Colombian forces scored a big victory in a 44-year war against Marxist insurgents Wednesday by infiltrating their enemy and rescuing former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, three American hostages and 11 Colombian troops without firing a shot.

Mrs. Betancourt later embraced her mother and her husband on the tarmac of an airport in Bogota after six years in captivity, much of it spent moving from hide-out to hide-out in dense steamy jungles and towering mountains.

"I'm well, thank you," said Mrs. Betancourt, 46, dressed in military fatigues, her face framed with intricate braids. She spoke with a poise and radiance despite reports of her ill health while in captivity.

Hours earlier, Republican presidential candidate John McCain had been briefed in advance of the rescue plan during a visit to Colombia.

"It's a very high-risk operation. I congratulate President [Alvaro] Uribe, the military and the nation of Colombia," Mr. McCain said after the hostages were safe.

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President Bush called Mr. Uribe to congratulate him, as did French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Mrs. Betancourt is a dual French-Colombian citizen.

The Americans - Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell - were flying to the United States to rejoin their families, Colombian officials said.