Colombian gov't says hostage release just a rumor

MIAMI, Aug 7 (Reuters) Colombia's foreign minister today denied a report saying a prominent French-Colombian citizen held hostage by his country's largest leftist rebel group was on the verge of being released.

''We only know the rumors,'' said Fernando Araujo, who was held hostage by guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) until he escaped in January after six years in captivity.

Denying the report in Venezuela's El Universal newspaper, Araujo said he knew nothing of talks between the FARC and Colombian and Venezuelan governments aimed at securing the release of Ingrid Betancourt, a dual French-Colombian kidnapped in 2002 while running a long-shot campaign for Colombia's presidency.

Colombia was awash with upbeat talk about Betancourt's release today, thanks to the report by Venezuelan columnist Patricia Poleo, who said she was being held on a ranch in Venezuela belonging to a FARC rebel leader known as ''Grannobles'' pending final arrangements for her return to freedom.

Araujo, who gave a brief interview to Reuters during a stopover in Miami, said there was nothing about the Universal report that the Colombian government was able to confirm, including the existence of a ranch in Venezuela belonging to Grannobles.

''We think this is all just speculation,'' Araujo said.

''But if there's an intent to free Ingrid Betancourt, we'll be joyous, we'll be very happy, just as we would about the release of any other kidnapped victim.'' REUTERS AE VC2221