By FRANK BAJAK By Frank Bajak The Associated Press BOGOTA, Colombia The plan was nothing if not audacious: A turncoat persuades rebels to bring together their most prized hostages and march them 90 miles through Colombia's wilderness.

By The Associated Press BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) - Colombian spies tricked leftist rebels into handing over kidnapped presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and three U.S. military contractors Wednesday in a daring helicopter rescue so successful that not a single shot was fired.

BOGOTA, Colombia _ Ingrid Betancourt went from jungle captive to national heroine within a dizzying 24 hours, as Colombians hailed the newly freed hostage Thursday for her courage and her every public move was carried live on television.

By FRANK BAJAK, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS BOGOT, Colombia Colombian spies tricked leftist rebels into handing over kidnapped presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and three U.S. military contractors Wednesday in a daring helicopter rescue so successful that not a single shot was fired.

Freed Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt Thursday was met by her children who she had not seen during six years as a captive of leftist rebels.