Hostage Betancourt freed as army hoodwinks rebels

Colombian spies tricked leftist rebels into handing over kidnapped presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and three US military contractors today in a daring helicopter rescue. No shots were fired during the rescue.

Ms Betancourt, who was seized on the campaign trail six years ago, appeared thin but healthy as she strode down the stairs of a military plane and held her mother in a long embrace.