US denies ransom payout for hostage release: ambassador

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2008

BOGOTA (AFP) — The United States government paid nothing for the release this week of 15 hostages held by leftist guerrillas in the Colombian jungle, the US ambassador to Bogota said on Friday.

Ambassador William Brownfield issued the denial in response to a radio report that the daring rescue of the hostages, including high-profile French Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt and three Americans, was obtained with a 20 million dollar ransom payout.

"How much did we give ... for the release of the three North-American hostages? Zero ... Zero. Nothing. Not one dollar, not one peso, not one euro. Absolutely nothing," Brownfield told reporters.

The Swiss radio station Radio Suisse Romande reported that the bloodless release of the captives was obtained by...