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Caribbean-Latin America
Venezuela Won't Allow Colombian Troops
2005-07-02
Venezuela said Friday it won't allow Colombian troops to hunt down leftist rebels hiding out in its territory, but pledged to boost military cooperation to curb the flow of guerillas, arms and drugs across the two nations' porous border. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Ali Rodriguez made the comments after discussing the tense situation along the 1,400-mile border with his Colombian counterpart, Carolina Barco, during a visit to Bogota. "We cannot allow them (Colombian troops) to pursue" rebels in Venezuela, Rodriguez told a news conference. He said such a move had been discussed, but that "what is needed is good military cooperation ... to carry out specific operations."

Colombian officials say a massive, U.S.-backed government offensive has forced fighters of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, to seek refuge in neighboring countries — where they are forging ties with local criminal gangs to commit crimes. "The guerrillas have no borders and they can kidnap anywhere in the world," Colombian President Alvaro Uribe told Caracol radio Friday. Colombia has long accused the leftist administration of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez of not doing enough to crack down on FARC rebels spilling over the border. Cooperation increased, however, after Venezuelan authorities captured a FARC commander in February for allegedly abetting the kidnapping in Venezuela of Detroit Tigers pitcher Ugueth Urbina's mother, who was freed in a police raid. The rebel leader was later extradited to Colombia.
Posted by:Fred

#1  Since they are supplying arms and support to the FARC, of course they won't want someone to come after them.

Tell you what, Hugo: let the Columbians follow in hot pursuit, or the alternative is the USMC.
Posted by: Jackal   2005-07-02 15:32  

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