Colombia recalls envoy from Caracas

Columbian President Alvaro Uribe (Left)
hugs Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez


Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=135801§ionid=351020703


Colombia has recalled its envoy to Caracas in a fresh escalation of a diplomatic row over claims that anti-Colombia leftist rebels operate in Venezuela.

Ambassador Maria Luisa Chiappe was called back to Bogota "to evaluate the situation" as the government prepared to bring its complaint to the Washington-based Organization of American states, AFP quoted the Colombian Foreign Ministry as saying on Thursday.

The move comes just days after Venezuela recalled its ambassador to Bogota following claims from Colombia's outgoing President Alvaro Uribe that leftist rebel leaders fighting his government were in the neighboring South American nation.

Uribe, who leaves office in August, said last week that his government had evidence that five leaders of leftist guerrilla groups were in Venezuela.

The president's office claimed the rebel leaders in Venezuela include four key members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, also known as FARC, and one from the smaller National Liberation Army. Both groups have been waging an armed campaign against the Colombian government since the mid-1960s.

Colombia was set to present its evidence on Thursday to the Organization of American States in Washington.

Diplomatic ties between Colombia and Venezuela froze last year after Bogota inked a military cooperation agreement with Washington. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez protested the move and described the deal as a threat to regional security.