Ingrid Betancourt, the Franco-Columbian hostage who was recently freed from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), was heading to Paris, where she would meet the French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

According to Aljazeera.net, she was held hostage by FARC rebels for six years and was freed Wednesday by Colombian forces. Since she was released she has been spending time with her family.

Her rescue had an important political impact and the French media began praising Colombian President Alvaro Uribe for his efforts in this operation. Along with Ingrid Betancourt, 14 other hostages, including three Americans, have been rescued.

“The Colombian President Uribe had chosen to pursue a relentless battle against the guerrillas... This struggle has been very successful for the President who enjoys massive support among the Colombians,” wrote Francois Sergeant in the Liberation daily.

Apparently Ingrid Betancourt is ready to get back to work and has plans for a new mission which would focus on the liberation of the other hostages held by FARC.

“We need to fight for the freedom of the others, who are still in the jungle, still held by FARC. There are a lot of people round the world who want to help us - fighting for the liberty of other Colombians,” she said, according to BBC.

At the time she was kidnapped (February 2002) she was a Colombian presidential candidate. She told reporters that the FARC was at the end of their powers and they should release the hostages. The rebels are thought to have about 30 foreign hostages and hundreds Colombian civilians.

Thursday, Colombian television showed some images of two FARC rebels who had been caught in the operation.

Ingrid Betancourt, 46, will arrive in Paris this afternoon. Along with her two children, Lorenzo, 19, and Melanie, 22, her mother Yolanda Pulecio and Foreign Minister Bernard Koucher, she is heading to France in a French government jet.

“I am eager to be in France, I am eager to be home,” she said.