PARIS (AFP) -- The ex-husband of Ingrid Betancourt, the Colombian presidential candidate held hostage by Marxist rebels for over six years, called for action, not “speculation” as to her health.

Fabrice Delloye told that politicians engaged in the fight to free Betancourt and 38 other political detainees were being distracted by varying third-party medical bulletins.
He said conflicting information should not be used to determine the urgency or otherwise of actions aimed at negotiating a release.
Delloye told the crowd outside Paris City Hall that all the hostages were suffering from ill health.
“They are in a bad way because they have been in captivity for a terrifying amount of time,” Delloye said.
“They are suffering from malnutrition, malaria, some from leishmaniasis (a parasitic infection of the skin), for others like Ingrid from hepatitis problems, or amoebic cysts, all of which means their state of health is extremely worrying.
“The aim is to get them out of there, not to speculate as to their condition to see if we need to act or not,” he said.
Conflicting reports have circulated about Betancourt’s health and well-being both before and after a recent French rescue mission was rejected by FARC.
Colombian Senator Piedad Cordoba, who has been mediating between the Colombian presidency and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) through his ties with radical Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, said on Friday that Betancourt was “well”.
Cordoba also blamed elements in the Colombian government for blocking an accord on exchanging FARC's hostages for jailed members of the group, saying a recent release of hostages with Chavez's aid showed the group was ""willing to dialogue.""
She insisted it was crucial to revive talks in order to ""boost the credibility"" of the clandestine rebel group which has been fighting the government for more than 40 years.
Last Sunday Colombian Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo told the El Tiempo newspaper “Ingrid is chronically ill but she is not at imminent risk of death”.
Betancourt’s mother Yolanda Pulecio also told France 3 television from Bogota that her daughter was not as ill as the rumors made out.
Betancourt is among 39 high-profile hostages whom the FARC rebel group wants to exchange with the government for 500 of their jailed fellow guerillas.
The FARC snatched her in February 2002 as she campaigned for the Colombian presidency.
A Colombian guerrilla who kidnapped Betancourt said he is sorry and has written a letter of apology to French President Nicolas Sarkozy, AP reported.
Nolberto Uni Vega, 36, said he's ""remorseful"" over the plight of Betancourt, a dual Colombian-French citizen who has been in jungle captivity since she was nabbed more than six years ago.
""The family — her mother, her children, her husband — a lot of people are suffering,"" Uni told reporters at a prison in the central town of Combita where he is serving 34 years for the abduction.
Uni gave the letter to a journalist for delivery to Betancourt's mother, who will pass it on to Sarkozy.
Betancourt's abduction was never planned, Uni said, speaking with journalists inside a large metal cage.
""The order was to detain all politicians of national stature,"" he said, adding that he was in charge of the roadblock on the day of the abduction.
""Her face changed color,"" Uni said. ""She didn't say anything to me.""
Uni said he was only with Betancourt for a day before she was handed over to fellow rebels.