Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez on Sunday showed confidence that former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, who is held hostage by the rebel Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC), is still alive, but denied having any proof of life.

"I am sure Ingrid is alive, although I do not have any material, such as a video. But before leaving Caracas, I received a message from Marulanda (FARC leader), and he asked me to trust his word, and that is what I am going to tell French President Nicolas Sarkozy," Cháve said following the closing session of the Third Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in Riyadh, DPA quoted.

Chávez is meeting with Sarkozy Tuesday in Paris amidst expectations on their talks about Betancourt, who is a French-Colombian citizen who has been held hostage by the FARC since 2002.

"I want to believe in Marulanda. There is no reason to think otherwise. Let us be positive," he added.

"Ingrid is alive, as well as many other Colombians and three US nationals who are in the FARC's hands," he explained.