Betancourt a 'matter of life or death' for the whole world

The poor health of former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, kidnapped six years ago, and the appalling conditions in which the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) are holding her have touched the whole world. 'It is a matter of life or death,' French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Thursday at a press conference in South Africa. The case of Betancourt, 46, became even more dire this week when a released hostage described the failing condition of the politician, who holds dual French-Colombian citizenship.