In pictures: France hails Betancourt

Ingrid Betancourt walked carefully down the plane steps as President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni prepared to give her a hero's welcome.

Ms Betancourt hailed Mr Sarkozy as an "extraordinary man" and thanked France for saving her life.

Mr Sarkozy and Ms Betancourt held hands as they made speeches on the Tarmac of the runway.

The Betancourt family, who had campaigned tirelessly for her release, all attended a ceremony at the Elysee Palace.

As part of a hectic schedule on her first day in Paris, Ms Betancourt also managed to fit in a TV interview.

Later thousands gathered outside the Hotel de Ville in Paris as Ms Betancourt pulled down the iconic image of her in captivity.

Meanwhile, the Colombian government released video footage of the daring raid in which Ms Betancourt and 14 other hostages were freed.

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