Betancourt gets good medical news

Ingrid Betancourt has said she is delighted with the results of initial medical tests carried out after being freed as a hostage of Colombian rebels. The French-Colombian politician spent six years in captivity and pictures that emerged earlier this year showed her looking frail. Betancourt gets good medical news The 46-year-old is in Paris, where she flew after her release on Wednesday. Colombia earlier released video footage of the daring rescue operation, showing the joy of the freed captives. In an interview on France-3 television, Betancourt said the news that she appeared to have suffered no long-term damage to her health had "filled [her] with joy" after years of worries. "The doctors showered me with good news," she said. Betancourt said she now intended to relax, adding: "I want to take time to really enjoy this happiness with my children. This time of rest, it's a time I dreamed of." Her sister, Astrid Betancourt, had earlier told the French news agency AFP that the results of the medical tests were "rather reassuring" but that Ingrid needed rest. The checks were carried out at the Val-de-Grace military hospital in Paris, which Betancourt left on Saturday evening. Asked by France-3 about reports on a Swiss radio station that a USD 20mn ransom had been paid to the rebels, Betancourt dismissed the idea - but said she would not have cared if it were the case. "If it were true, so much the better. Why not?" she said. "I suffered terribly." She described one of her captors, who she called Enrique, as being a man "of special cruelty". Betancourt, right, meets with her mother after being released from captivity (Beta)

Betancourt gets good medical news

The 46-year-old is in Paris, where she flew after her release on Wednesday.

Colombia earlier released video footage of the daring rescue operation, showing the joy of the freed captives.

In an interview on France-3 television, Betancourt said the news that she appeared to have suffered no long-term damage to her health had "filled [her] with joy" after years of worries.

"The doctors showered me with good news," she said.

Betancourt said she now intended to relax, adding: "I want to take time to really enjoy this happiness with my children. This time of rest, it's a time I dreamed of."

Her sister, Astrid Betancourt, had earlier told the French news agency AFP that the results of the medical tests were "rather reassuring" but that Ingrid needed rest.

The checks were carried out at the Val-de-Grace military hospital in Paris, which Betancourt left on Saturday evening.

Asked by France-3 about reports on a Swiss radio station that a USD 20mn ransom had been paid to the rebels, Betancourt dismissed the idea - but said she would not have cared if it were the case.

"If it were true, so much the better. Why not?" she said. "I suffered terribly."

She described one of her captors, who she called Enrique, as being a man "of special cruelty".