“The aircraft is carrying medical equipment,” a spokesman said.The Falcon 900 business jet, which normally accompanies Sarkozy on overseas trips, touched down at an airfield near French Guyana’s capital Cayenne late on Saturday and has been “pre-positioned” as a standby measure, his office said.The spokesman said the plane would stay until Monday when it would be replaced by another fully equipped medical aircraft.Colombia said on Saturday France would be willing to take in former guerrilla fighters as part of a possible deal to free scores of hostages, including Betancourt.The proposal is part of a package of offers President Alvaro Uribe has made to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, in an effort to prompt rebels to free kidnap victims held for as long as 10 years in secret jungle camps.Uribe this week urged FARC fighters to accept offers of cash rewards and reduced jail terms for abandoning rebel ranks and handing over hostages.France, Spain and Switzerland are engaged in efforts to broker a deal to swap rebel fighters for hostages.Pressure for that is building after details emerged indicating former presidential candidate Betancourt is gravely ill after six years in captivity.
1.7K
