Sarkozy 'will come to Colombia' to free hostage

France has asked Venezuela for help with a hurried mission to free an ailing hostage held by Colombian rebels, but President Hugo Chavez says he is powerless until Colombia and the US stop hunting a rebel leader.

France announced that President Nicolas Sarkozy was willing to travel with Venezuela’s left-wing president to the Colombian-Venezuelan border to try to secure the release of Ingrid Betancourt, a former Colombian presidential candidate who also has French nationality.