After a failed rescue mission, Ingrid Betancourt remains captive of the Colombian rebel forces. The mission involved the treatment and possible rescue of the six-year French hostage who apparently suffers from depression and hepatitis B.

The mission was put together by efforts of French, Spanish and Swedish officials and after six days of waiting the conclusion reached was that the assignment cannot be completed.

A French government plane had been waiting since Thursday in the Bogota area with doctors ready to assist Ingrid in any way needed.

Betancourt was captured by rebels while campaigning for the presidency in 2002, and has been held as a hostage in Colombia’s jungles ever since.

Lately, more efforts have been made to save the politician, after several hostages who were recently released by the rebels revealed that Betancourt was very ill and had begun a hunger strike on February 23, the sixth anniversary of her captivity.

According to the Associated Press, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia stated that no more hostages will be released until their demands concerning the government demilitarization needed to free the hundreds of imprisoned rebels will be solved. They made it clear that such an exchange of prisoners will be the only accepted scenario.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced through his office that he is “deeply disappointed” with the events and that “his determination to win their liberation remains as strong as ever,” as quoted by the Associated Press.