Paris, France – Freed hostage Ingrid Betancourt has been welcomed by French lawmakers with a rousing standing ovation.
With tears in her eyes, Betancourt gently shook her head in disbelief as senators rose to their feet to applaud her on Tuesday. Christian Poncelet, president of the French Senate, encouraged those in the auditorium to stand, crying ”Debout! Debout! (Stand up!)”
Poncelet praised Betancourt’s courage and tenacity, saying she had always been in senators’ thoughts during her more than six years as a hostage of leftist rebels in Colombia.
Betancourt is French-Colombian. Colombia’s army freed her and 14 other hostages from the FARC rebels in a daring rescue last week.
The Associated Press
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