July 3 (Reuters) - French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt, three Americans and 11 other hostages held for years in jungle captivity were rescued on Wednesday from leftist guerrillas by Colombian troops. Following are comments from family, world leaders and others in reaction to the rescue. MELANIE BETANCOURT, BETANCOURT'S DAUGHTER "We are waiting for the moment when we can hold our mother in our arms. "I would like to, above all, thank the President (Sarkozy). Because ever since the moment when he took up this matter in his own hands, everything started to get rolling and today, mum is there. "There are still hostages left in the jungle. We must not forget them. We must continue to fight for their freedom. And we will not forget those who could not come back." LORENZO BETANCOURT, BETANCOURT'S SON "We have won a fight for freedom." FRENCH PRESIDENT NICOLAS SARKOZY "I would firstly, with (Foreign Minister) Bernard Kouchner, like to thank President (Alvaro) Uribe and the Colombian authorities and the Colombian army who led an operation crowned with success," he said Sarkozy thanked other South American leaders and said he was thinking of all the released hostages as well as those still in captivity. "I want to tell the (rebel group) FARC that they must stop this absurd fight," he said, adding that France was ready to welcome any members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as the FARC, who gave up their arms. WHITE HOUSE "President Bush spoke by phone with President Uribe of Colombia this afternoon," said Gordon Johndroe, White House National Security Council spokesman. "President Bush congratulated President Uribe, telling him he is a 'strong leader.' President Uribe thanked President Bush for his support and confidence in the Government of Colombia." CHILEAN PRESIDENT MICHELLE BACHELET "This is a victory for democracy, peace and freedom. "Kidnapping is a serious violation of human rights and international humanitarian law, and so I want to call for the freeing of the remainder of the people who are still being held hostage in Colombia." BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT LUIZ INACIO LULA DA SILVA "I hope this is an important step toward the release of all the other kidnapped people, reconciliation among all Colombians and peace in Colombia." PERUVIAN PRESIDENT ALAN GARCIA "I think Colombia, which has sometimes faced a lack of understanding in the world, showed us today what can be done with constancy, discipline and the democratic use of legal resources to face and banish violence." U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON "These hostages and so many others still held captive in Colombia have endured years of hardship and privation. Kidnapping is an abhorrent crime and an egregious violation of international humanitarian law," he said in a statement issued by his spokeswoman, Michele Montas, in New York. He urged the FARC to immediately and unconditionally release the remaining hostages and said the FARC and other groups should engage in dialogue with the authorities "with a view to freeing hostages and ending the violence that has afflicted Colombia for so long." SEN. JOHN MCCAIN, U.S. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE "This is great news, and now we will renew our efforts to free all of the others, innocent people who are unlawfully being held hostage." The Republican candidate said his visit to Colombia on Wednesday promoting free trade had nothing to do with the hostages' rescue. He left the country before Colombia made the announcement. "I would remind you that these things require incredibly long planning and coordination," he said.
(L-R) U.S. contractors Marc Gonsalves, Keith Stansell and Thomas Howes, who were kidnapped by FARC rebels, are seen in this combination picture made up from frames taken from a video released ...
