Colombian Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos during a press conference in Bogota, 04 Jul 2008

Colombia's defense minister has denied reports that his government paid a ransom for the release of 15 rebel-held hostage earlier this week.

Juan Manuel Santos rejected as false Swiss radio reports that 20 million dollars was paid for the hostages, who included French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt and three American defense contractors.

He also stressed that the Colombian military planned and executed the operation to free the hostages from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC.

On Friday, Colombia released a video recorded during the bloodless rescue.

And Betancourt, who was held captive for six years, was welcomed in Paris by French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Ingrid Betancourt (r) is welcomed by French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla, at Villacoublay's military airport, 04 Jul 2008

She tearfully thanked France for campaigning for her release.

Betancourt also thanked the Colombian government for executing a "flawless" non-violent rescue.

Authorities say Colombian intelligence officials tricked rebels into handing over their most prominent hostages for transport by helicopter to another location. The hostages boarded what turned out to be government helicopters that flew them to safety.

The operation is widely described as an embarrassing setback for the FARC, which has lost some of its senior commanders in recent months. Desertions also have trimmed its ranks.

Betancourt was seized in 2002 while campaigning for the Colombian presidency. The three American contractors were kidnapped in 2003 when their small plane crashed in the Colombian jungle during a counter-narcotics operation.

The United States, Colombia and European Union have designated the FARC a terrorist organization. The group is believed to be holding more than 700 hostages in jungle locations.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and.