Key dates in kidnappings of politician, Americans

By The Associated Press (AP) - A look at key dates in the kidnapping of three American defense contractors and a Colombian politician held by Colombia's largest rebel force, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC. Feb. 23, 2002 _ French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt is kidnapped as she campaigns for president in a rebel-stronghold in southern Colombia. Feb. 13, 2003 _ An aerial counter-drug surveillance flight goes down. Americans Thomas Howes, Marc Gonsalves, Keith Stansell and Thomas Janis are aboard. Rescue teams find Janis shot to death. Feb. 24, 2003 _ The FARC claims responsibility for bringing down the plane and says it has the Americans. July 2-22, 2003 _ Betancourt's sister, Astrid, and husband Juan Carlos Lecompte, wait in the Brazilian town of Tabatinga for her release. The FARC had told the... [read full story]