Betancourt rescued, Colombia says

(CNN) - Former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt has been rescued, the country's defense minister said Wednesday.

The Colombian military detailed an operation that resulted in the liberation of three Americans, Betancourt and 11 other hostages.

The 46-year-old former senator was kidnapped by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia in February 2002, when she was running for president.

Other recently released hostages said that she had been in poor health when they saw her.