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Betancourt greets France with tears, joy

By JENNY BARCHFIELD

Published: Jul 04, 2008

"I cry with joy," Ingrid Betancourt said. And she did.

After six years as a hostage in the Colombian jungle, the former Colombian presidential candidate and French citizen flew back to her beloved France to be embraced Friday as an icon by the country that raised her.

A hero's welcome - led by President Nicolas Sarkozy - greeted Betancourt from the moment she descended from the plane at the Villacoublay air base southwest of Paris. A dual French-Colombian citizen, Betancourt was campaigning for Colombia's presidency when she was kidnapped in 2002.

Betancourt, 46, won a hug from Sarkozy - who called her "radiant" - and a kiss from first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy. Talking excitedly and smiling broadly, they were joined by Betancourt's children, other family members and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner. More

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