Q&A: Colombia hostage situation

Left-wing Farc rebels in Colombia have kidnapped hundreds of people in the past decade. Their highest-profile hostage, Ingrid Betancourt, was rescued on 2 July after the rebel group was infiltrated and tricked into handing her and 14 others over to the army. However, hundreds of hostages remain in captivity in the Colombian jungle.

Who has been released?

Ingrid Betancourt, a French-Colombian politician, was running for president when she was kidnapped in 2002.

Joy at Ingrid Betancourt's rescue but many hostages remain in rebel hands

She was freed with 14 others in a daring undercover military operation.

The released hostages included three American military contractors - Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell and 11 members of Colombia's security forces.

Ms Betancourt's family had galvanised a high-profile media campaign to push for her release, and French President Nicolas Sarkozy said her liberation was a foreign policy priority.

Previous attempts to negotiate her freedom, with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez as a go-between, had failed. There had been increasing concerns for her health, too, after reports that she was seriously ill.

Ms Betancourt's aide, Clara Rojas, who was kidnapped with her, was released in January 2008, as was ex-congresswoman Consuelo Gonzalez.

What does it mean for President Alvaro Uribe?

The successful military operation to rescue Ms Betancourt is an undoubted coup for the president, whose father was killed by Farc rebels in a kidnap attempt 20 years ago.

It could not have come at a better time, as he faces political difficulties at home.

Although very popular for his hardline stance against the rebels, President Uribe been facing calls for an investigation into the legality of his re-election in 2006.

A former politician had been convicted of taking a bribe to support the constitutional reform that granted Mr Uribe an unprecedented second term, and Congress is investigating whether Mr Uribe was directly involved in the bribery. He denies any wrongdoing.

What does it mean for the Farc?

The Farc have lost their major bargaining chips in their calls for the government to exchange high-profile hostages for jailed rebels. They have also, especially in the case of Ingrid Betancourt and the three US citizens, lost their principal diplomatic weapon to force the government into making concessions.

Prior to the rescue operation, the rebels were believed to be at their weakest point in years, following the death of their long-time leader, Manuel Marulanda, in March.

The past six months have also been marked by the loss of other leaders, infiltration of rebel ranks and a record number of desertions.

The daring military operation that released the hostages is not likely to improve morale.

However, it does not necessarily mean the rebels will take up the government's call to release all the other hostages and begin serious peace moves.

What of the remaining hostages?

Hundreds of Colombians remain captives of the Farc, and some have spent more than a decade being held in the jungle.

Gustavo Moncayo wears chains to symbolise his son's long captivity

Most are ordinary Colombians, taken hostage for ransom, but a few dozen are so-called "exchangeables" - hostages with a high-enough profile that they form part of mooted prisoner exchange deals with the government.

One such hostage is Sigifredo Lopez, the only survivor of a group of 12 politicians who were killed by Farc rebels in 2002.

The fear is that Ms Betancourt's release means that interest in their plight will dwindle.

Whatever the repercussions of her rescue, their chances of freedom seem as remote as ever.

What now for Ingrid Betancourt?

Ms Betancourt has called for the release of all the remaining hostages in Colombia, and it is possible she might devote her energies towards campaigning for their freedom.

With her profile much higher than it was before her kidnapping, it is also possible that she might return to politics ahead of the 2010 presidential election.

On the day of her release, she thanked her former political rival President Alvaro Uribe - who, unless the constitution is changed, will not be able to stand for re-election - and said he has been "a very good president".

She added: "I continue to aspire to serve Colombia as president."