Venezuela Freezes Diplomatic Ties With
Colombia
Caracas - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez
on Tuesday froze diplomatic relations with
Colombia after Bogota accused Venezuela of
alleged involvement in arms supplies to
Colombian rebels.
"I've ordered the withdrawal of our
ambassador from Bogota, and the withdrawal
of our diplomatic personnel," the Venezuelan
leader said in a televised Cabinet meeting.
"We will freeze relations with Colombia," he
added.
Chavez's announcement came a day after
Colombia said Swedish-made weapons bought by
Venezuela during the 1980s had ended up in
the hands of Revolutionary Armed Forces of
Colombia (FARC) rebels, who have been
fighting the Bogota government for more than
four decades.
"We are not going to accept this
irresponsibility," Chavez said, calling the
accusation a "big manipulation."
The Venezuelan leader also threatened to
halt all trade agreements with the Colombian
government "if there's one more accusation
against Venezuela."
There was no immediate comment from the
Colombian government.
The move further raised tensions between the
two neighboring countries after Chavez
previously called a stronger military
relationship between Colombia and the United
States a threat to his country.
Colombia announced earlier this month that
the United States would use three bases in
Colombia to fight drug trafficking in the
country.
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