Chávez, French ex premier talk about FARC hostages

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez met on Friday at Miraflores presidential palace with French ex Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, an 'old friend of Venezuela,' and talked, among other topics, about the hostages held by the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC), immigration and bilateral cooperation. 'We have discussed the situation of the hostages and Ingrid (Betancourt). I know about Chávez's endeavors to improve things and get that release,' said Villepin and underscored that his visit to Caracas was private and not intended to 'interfere by any means in such a difficult situation,' AFP quoted. Villepin, prime minister until May 2007 and previously Minister of Foreign Affairs, is a personal friend of French-Colombian Ingrid Betancourt, who has been in the guerrilla hands since 2002.