Colombia says did not block Ecuador hostage effort

BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombia on Wednesday denied accusations it impeded efforts by the Ecuador government to free hostages held by rebels in secret Colombian jungle camps.

The two Andean countries are in a diplomatic dispute over a weekend raid by Colombian forces that killed a top guerrilla commander on Ecuadorean territory.

Ecuador said the raid violated its sovereignty and derailed its efforts to free hostages including French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt, who was snatched by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, in 2002.

"Ecuador never consulted or informed the government of Colombia that it was pursuing contacts with the FARC aimed at liberating hostages," said a statement issued by Colombia's government.

Ecuador says Colombia knew about its hostage negotiations.

Six FARC kidnap victims have been released this year in deals brokered by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. They told reporters that Betancourt had been mistreated and kept in chains, had a serious liver problem and was exhausted.

(Reporting by Hugh Bronstein; Editing by Peter Cooney)