Álvaro Uribe, Colombia’s president, secured one of the most significant triumphs of his political career on Wednesday when troops freed Ingrid Betancourt and 14 other hostages held by leftwing Farc guerrillas.

”I believe that this is a sign of peace for Colombia, that we can find peace,” Ms Betancourt said, weeping as she thanked the Colombian military in her first public comments, carried on Colombian radio station Caracol.