Colombia offers Farc hostage deal

She is said to have hepatitis B and a tropical skin disease.

Colombia's human rights ombudsman Wolmar Perez said earlier that Ms Betancourt's health was "very, very delicate".

He said the government had received reports that showed the former senator had been taken to a public clinic in the jungle of southern Colombia in February.

Announcing the "humanitarian" offer, Mr Restrepo told a news conference: "The legal basis for a humanitarian exchange has been established and we have reduced the requirements as much as possible.

"The government has joined the national and international cry that the life of Ingrid Betancourt be saved. We cannot run risks in this case and there is no more time to wait."