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LATIN AMERICA |
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Colombian Taxi Drivers, Venezuelan Guards
Clash at Border
BOGOTA – Some 300 Colombian motorcycle taxi
drivers clashed with Venezuelan borders
guards at two international bridges in
Cucuta, Colombia, and San Antonio del
Tachira, Venezuela, during a protest against
Venezuela’s refusal to allow the transport
of merchandise between the two countries.
Media outlets in Cucuta reported that the
protests were sparked by the tough
requirements and obstacles put on bringing
in and taking out merchandise from the
neighboring country by order of Venezuelan
President Hugo Chavez along the 2,219
kilometers (1,376 miles) of the mutual
frontier.
The Colombian demonstrators burned tires in
the middle of the bridges and set up
barricades from which they threw stones at
the Venezuelan guards who, from their own
side of the border, fired tear gas.
The members of the Venezuelan National Guard
were ordered to prevent the passage of food
and fuel to the Colombian side.
Chavez ordered the interruption of
cross-border trade after Bogota accused his
government of providing arms to Colombian
rebels. The Venezuelan leader is also
unhappy over plans to allow U.S. military
units to operate from bases in Colombia. EFE
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