Bogota  - A former FARC rebel's planned departure from Colombia to live in asylum in France was stopped at the last moment on Monday after the public prosecutor requested a delay.

Wilson Bueno Largo, alias Isaza, had fled a FARC camp in Colombia in October along with a hostage and was to fly to France with high- profile former hostage Ingrid Bentancourt on Monday.

But prosecutor Mario Iguaran asked for the stay in order to determine whether Isaza was guilty of kidnapping and to wait for a justice decision on his pardoning.

France has offered to grant asylum to former rebels if they give up their armed fight and are not facing trial in their country. Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has said he hopes the offer will convince FARC rebels to release their hostages. (dpa)