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France asked for help from the Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in the hostage situation in Colombia by the FARC guerillas of Ingrid Betancourt, but the Venezuelan President pointed its fingers to the United States’ and Colombia’s government to stop first the hunt for Colombia’s guerilla leader Ivan Marquez.

Sarkozy was very much willing to go with Chavez to the frontier of Colombia and Venezuela to secure Betancourt’s release. Betancourt is among the hundreds of people held hostage by the FARC guerillas, including three American contractors. Chavez was able to negotiate hostage releases in the past by the FARC, and so, Sarkozy deemed that Chavez can be of great help in the Betancourt situation. The Venezuelan President said he was willing to help, however, he made a statement that Colombia and the United should cease the search for the Ivan Marquez first, before he relays any kind of assistance. Ivan Marquez is a part of the ruling secretariat of FARC. He also stressed that agents from the said two countries are very keen on the hunt of Marquez, and that the United States is even using advanced technology, like satellites, to track him down.

Tom Casey, the State Department spokesperson, denied the accusation and said that he is not familiar with Marquez’s identity. It is important to note that about two years ago, the State Department made an announcement that the agency is willing to pay up to $5 million for classified information of the seven members of the FARC secretariat.

French authorities have sent various humanitarian missions to aid and hasten the rescue of FARC hostage Ingrid Betancourt and others. One humanitarian mission included a doctor to treat Betancourt, and try to make contact with her.

The rescue operation has a complete media blackout, and people have no idea of whether the French team has already permeated the region or not. Different humanitarian missions from France, Switzerland and Spain have already begun, and the said countries have already collaborated with the other concerned authorities as well. Last Tuesday, President Sarkozy made a televised appeal to the FARC members for the release of Ingrid Betancourt who was deemed to be in grave danger of an imminent death due to her health. She has been held captive by the FARC guerillas for six years already.

Bernard Kouchner, the Foreign Minister, said that every humanly effort has already been done by France, and as of the moment, people will just have to wait until the French team and the doctor arrive at the area. The French authorities are expecting for their plans to materialise. Luis Carlos Restrepo, the Peace Commissioner in Colombia, said in the local radio that government of Colombia already complied with Sarokozy’s request to suspend any kind of military operations. Restrepo said that the Colombian government just had to pinpoint the area of where to cease the operations, and the operations will stop. The International Committee of Red Cross said that they are willing to participate in the operations to free Betancourt and officials are positive that the team will be able to free her.