MADRID (AFP) -- A leading Colombian politician who has been mediating the release of ailing French-Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt, said on Friday that she was ""well"", blaming Bogota for hindering dialogue with her rebel captors.

Senator Piedad Cordoba told a press conference ""the latest information I have, which goes back to last week is that she's doing well.""
Betancourt has been held captive by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) for six years and earlier reports said she was seriously ill.
But Cordoba, who has close ties with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, said, ""She has no illness which could give rise to complications.""
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.
Conflicting reports have circulated about Betancourt's health and well-being both before and after a recent French rescue mission was rejected by FARC.
On 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 last week 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.