Hostages Freed in Colombia Are Reunited With Families

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Residents of Medellin Describe Rescue as 'Incredible, Absolutely Incredible'

Patrons of the Laurels Billiard Club in Medellin, Colombia, sat engrossed by television coverage of the rescue of 15 hostages from FARC captivity. Upstairs from the bar are the offices of the Mothers of the Candelaria, a support group for families of missing people in Colombia's long-running civil war. For volunteer Luis Alfonso Quiros, the story of the rescue hit home.

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The rebel leader of the group guarding the hostages was apprehended during Wednesday's operation along with his deputy. The commander, Gerardo Antonio Aguilar Ramírez, was among 11 FARC members indicted last year by a U.S. federal court on charges of conspiring to provide material support or resources to a terrorist group. They were also indicted on charges of taking hostage the three American contractors rescued Wednesday, court records show.

Aguilar, alias César, is accused of being the commander of a 550-member logistical network that prosecutors called "large and trusted" within the FARC network, according to the court records.

Along with his deputy, Alexander Farfán -- alias Gafas -- César was displayed before reporters here Thursday.

The reporters started peppering the men with questions, with some asking if they regretted the way they treated their hostages. César, with a black-and-blue right eye, stood stone-faced and refused to answer any questions.

Santos, the defense minister, said the guerrillas would not be extradited to the United States. "They should be condemned here," he said.

Meanwhile, reports detailing the conditions under which the hostages were kept mesmerized people here. According to the Associated Press, the hostages were at times chained to a post by their necks. Their options for food became more limited over time.

"Suicide was a permanent temptation," Betancourt said at a news conference at the French Embassy in Bogota. "I used to ask myself how bad it would be, if I would dare to do it and what would my children think." In the end, Betancourt said, it was the memories of her children that helped her survive.

"We always told her, you have to live for yourself and for your children," said William Pérez, an army nurse who was imprisoned with Betancourt.

Pérez said that he treated Betancourt when she was ill and that the last two weeks were especially difficult for her. She credited him with saving her life.

"I think that two more weeks and she would have died. She was very stressed and didn't eat, which malnourished her," Pérez said.

Betancourt looked healthy and enthusiastic Thursday as she visited the grave site of her father, who died while she was in captivity. She waved to a throng of reporters who followed her every step of the way. At the back of the pack was Betancourt's mother, Yolanda Pulecio, in tears.

"This moment is like her being born again," she said.

Branigin reported from Washington. Staff writer Del Quentin Wilber in Washington contributed to this report.