About a ton of explosives were found just outside Bogota [REUTERS]

Officials said they suspected the explosives, found on a farm outside Bogota, were to be used by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) as a reprisal for the army's rescue of 15 hostages held by the Farc.

Hostage rescue

The hostages, including Ingrid Betancourt, the French-Colombian politician, were rescued on Wednesday when Colombian troops posing as Farc fighters fooled the rebels into releasing the captives into their custody.

The bloodless rescue of the hostages, including the high-profile Betancourt, was a severe blow to Farc, who have also lost their leader and many members this year.

The 15 hostages have been undergoing health check-ups over the past two days and Betancourt received a clean bill of health on Saturday.

After undergoing a series of medial tests at the Val-de-Grace military hospital in Paris she said: "The doctors showered me with good news."

"I have had a number of concerns all these years. Now I'm totally happy.

Betancourt, who had been campaigning for the Colombian presidency when she was captured by the Farc, spent more than six years in captivity.

The Farc have been waging an insurgency against the government for four decades.

While they were once considered to be close to overrunning the government, analysts now say that they are almost defeated.

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