Chavez Sends Troops to Colombian Border

Venezuelan prez angry after rebel is killed
By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 2, 2008 3:19 PM CST
Chavez Sends Troops to Colombian Border
Ecuador's soldiers carry an alleged rebel of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, they found wounded Sunday, March 2, 2008, in the area where Colombian security forces attacked a rebel camp in Angostura, near the border with Colombia. Colombian security forces killed 17 rebels, including...   (Associated Press)

Hugo Chavez sent thousands of Venezuelan troops to the Colombian border today after Colombia killed a FARC rebel leader, CNN reports. Chavez accused Colombia of being a US puppet and said Ecuador's border was violated in the attack. "We have to liberate Colombia," said Chavez, who is linked to FARC and tried to negotiate a prisoners-for-hostages trade with it last year.

Ecuador is also shuttling troops to its Colombian border, Chavez said. But Colombia, which denied crossing into Ecuador, called the rebel's death a strike against terror. “The terrorists have had the custom of killing in Colombia and taking refuge in the territory of neighboring countries," officials said in a statement. (More Hugo Chavez stories.)

Get breaking news in your inbox.
What you need to know, as soon as we know it.
Sign up
Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X