Colombia Apologises Over Use of Red Cross Symbol in Betancourt Rescue
Emblem was displayed on vests and T-shirts worn by Colombian intelligence officers who carried out operation
Colombia today admitted using the Red Cross emblem during the raid that ended the captivity of Ingrid Betancourt.
The president, Alvaro Uribe, said the country had apologized to the organization.
"We regret that this occurred," Uribe said in a speech following press reports about the emblem being displayed on vests and T-shirts worn by Colombian intelligence officers who carried out the rescue.
A team of Colombian military intelligence agents posing as members of a fake international humanitarian group airlifted Betancourt and 14 other hostages to safety on July 2.
Posing as Red Cross workers is against the Geneva conventions because it puts humanitarian workers at risk and undermines the neutrality of the Red Cross.
Uribe admitted the incident had not been authorized.
He said a single member of the rescue team had become nervous and attached a cloth International Red Cross symbol to his vest.
Betancourt, 40, spent six years in the hands of the Colombian rebel group Farc.
Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, this week presented her with France's highest award, the Legion d'honneur, at France's traditional Bastille Day garden party. He said other hostages around the world must still be freed.
Betancourt thanked Sarkozy and told him she was counting on him to help free the scores of other hostages held by Farc.
The president, Alvaro Uribe, said the country had apologized to the organization.
"We regret that this occurred," Uribe said in a speech following press reports about the emblem being displayed on vests and T-shirts worn by Colombian intelligence officers who carried out the rescue.
A team of Colombian military intelligence agents posing as members of a fake international humanitarian group airlifted Betancourt and 14 other hostages to safety on July 2.
Posing as Red Cross workers is against the Geneva conventions because it puts humanitarian workers at risk and undermines the neutrality of the Red Cross.
Uribe admitted the incident had not been authorized.
He said a single member of the rescue team had become nervous and attached a cloth International Red Cross symbol to his vest.
Betancourt, 40, spent six years in the hands of the Colombian rebel group Farc.
Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, this week presented her with France's highest award, the Legion d'honneur, at France's traditional Bastille Day garden party. He said other hostages around the world must still be freed.
Betancourt thanked Sarkozy and told him she was counting on him to help free the scores of other hostages held by Farc.
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