France wants Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez to continue playing his role as a mediator between the Colombian government and the rebel Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC), and French President Nicolas Sarkozy is forwarding a letter to his Colombian counterpart over the next few days.

Uribe terminated the mediation efforts conducted by Colombian Senator Piedad Córdoba and Chávez to reach an agreement on the release of a number of hostages held by the FARC for imprisoned rebels.

Chávez -who visited Paris last Tuesday- has the support of France in this issue, Thursday said in a news conference the spokesman of the Élysée Palace David Martinon.

"We continue to believe that Chávez's efforts are the best choice for the release of the hostages," Martinon declared, branding the Chávez-Sarkozy meeting two days ago as "satisfactory," Efe quoted.

In Paris, the Venezuelan ruler also met with the relatives of one the hostages held by the FARC, former presidential candidate in Colombia Ingrid Betancourt, a French-Colombian citizen.

Martinon stressed he endorses the idea that Chávez and Uribe resume their talks. He added that French Ambassador to Colombia -who is presently in Paris- would travel to Bogotá over the next few days to deliver a letter from Sarkozy to Uribe.

While the letter has not been written yet, the spokesman said, the "wish" is that Chávez is allowed to continue to play his role as a mediator.