LONDON, July 2, 2008 (AFP) - Amnesty International hailed the rescue of Colombian-French hostage Ingrid Betancourt Wednesday, and called on FARC rebels to release all of their other captives immediately.

Betancourt, a former Colombian presidential candidate who was kidnapped in 2002 by the Marxist rebels, was rescued in a military and helicopter operation along with three American hostages and 11 Colombian soldiers.

'This is positive news but we should not forget about the other hundreds who continue to be held across Colombia,' the London-based human rights group said in a statement.

'We urge the FARC to release them immediately and unconditionally.'

The FARC, accused of drug trafficking and holding some 750 people hostage in its jungle hideouts, is classified as a terrorist organisation by the United States, the European Union and the Colombian government.