EU Parliament wants international medical mission to treat Betancourt

The European Parliament on Wednesday called for an international medical mission to be sent to Colombia to treat Ingrid Betancourt, a dual French-Colombian national kidnapped while running for president in 2002 and held hostage by leftist rebels.

The EU assembly also repeated its calls for the release of Betancourt — reported to be very ill — and other captives on humanitarian grounds.

EU lawmakers paid tribute to Betancourt, holding large photos of her and applauding in the assembly's auditorium. Some called for the Fighters of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia movement, or FARC, to stop taking hostages to get off the European Union's terror list.