(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-11-30 21:01

BOGOTA -- The Colombian government Friday released video footage of kidnapped former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and three Americans as evidence that the hostages held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) are still alive.

Picture taken from television news November 30 2007 shows kidnapped French-Colombian politician and hostage Ingrid Betancourt in a video captured from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) leftist guerrillas. Colombian soldiers have captured three leftist rebel soldiers who carried five videos of hostages including three Americans and Betancourt, the government said Friday. [Agencies]

In a Colombian army operation against FARC's urban networks, three people were captured in possession of the film, said Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo.

The videos are the first proof since 2003 that the high-profile hostages are still alive. Betancourt, the dual French-Colombian politician, appeared depressed in the film, while the three Americans looked in better shape.

Betancourt was kidnapped in February 2002, while she was running for the presidency. The Americans, who were US State Department contractors, were captured in February 2003 and are among the most well-known captives to have been held by FARC.

Photographs and letters from hostages were also seized. One of the letters was written by Betancourt to her mother, Restrepo added.

The Americans and Betancourt are among nearly 50 hostages who the rebels want to swap for 500 FARC prisoners. Efforts by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to broker a hostage deal fell recently apart after Colombia stopped him acting as mediator.

Restrepo said the videos were handed to the justice ministry, which decided to make them public and show them to the hostages' families. Copies will be sent to the French and US governments.

Since it began operating as a rebel insurgency, FARC has been deeply engaged in Colombia's cocaine trade and has kidnapped a large number of high-profile people in the country.