Thousands of Venezuelans Flee To Colombia Amid Violence On The Border

 

ABC News (Australia): Venezuelan soldiers killed civilians, say asylum seekers who fled to Colombia 

Venezuelans fleeing to Colombia to escape clashes between the Venezuelan military and irregular armed groups have accused soldiers of abuses, including killing civilians. 

The flow of refugees, estimated at 4,000 by an official in Colombia's Arauquita Municipality, began on Sunday after Venezuela's National Bolivarian Armed Forces (FANB) launched an offensive against illegal armed groups in La Victoria, a Venezuelan town across the Arauca River from Arauquita. 

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 More News On Reports Of Thousands Of Venezuelans Fleeing To Colombia To Escape The Violence 

Venezuelan soldiers killed civilians, refugees who fled to Colombia say -- Reuters 

Over 3000 people displaced by clashes on the Venezuela-Colombia border - Colombia -- Relief Web 

‘Humanitarian time bomb’: 4,700 Venezuelans flee to Colombia -- Al Jazeera 

Colombia increases troops on border with Venezuela amid guerrilla violence -- Colombia Reports

Growing Backlash Against Venezuelan Migrants In Colombia

Jose Paéz (right), who migrated from Venezuela, pleads with a Colombian police officer. He was detained with about 50 other people at a roadblock in Pamplona. John Otis for NPR 

NPR: Large Venezuelan Migration Sparks Xenophobic Backlash In Colombia 

Just three days after crossing the border into Colombia to escape food shortages, joblessness and authoritarian rule in Venezuela, Alexander González says he's shocked by the xenophobia of his adopted homeland. 

"Colombians treat Venezuelans badly," says González, 19, as he takes a breather in the Colombian town of Pamplona before setting off on foot for the capital of Bogotá. "They practically spit in our faces." 

Amid Venezuela's worst-ever economic crisis, which is widely blamed on corruption and mismanagement by President Nicolás Maduro's socialist regime, more than 5 million Venezuelans have fled the country. 

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WNU Editor: I have friends who live in neighboring Guyana on the other side of Venezuela. They tell me that there are now more Venezuelans in the country than Guyanans, and like Colombia, no one wants them to stay. In response these migrants cannot access the services that many in Guyana take for granted. And they certainly will not be permitted to become citizens.

Venezuelan Security Forces Block Opposition Leader Juan Guaido And His Supporters From Entering Congress

Daily Mail: Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido and his supporters are blocked from country's congress building as President Maduro backs bid to axe him as Speaker amid accusations of 'parliamentary coup'

* Juan Guaido had been expected to be re-elected parliament speaker in a vote
* However, police blocked him and his allies from attending the vote on Sunday
* Guaido attempted to climb a fence to get access to Congress but was denied
* US and Colombia have both slammed Sunday's vote against Guaido as a farce

Venezuela's opposition denounced a 'parliamentary coup' on Sunday after its leader Juan Guaido was prevented from entering the National Assembly by police while a rival tried to take his role as speaker.

Guaido led a small group of lawmakers trying to access the palace where the opposition-controlled National Assembly was set to elect a new speaker, when they were pushed back by national guardsmen wielding heavy riot shields.

He had been expected to be re-elected as speaker in a vote on Sunday but only regime lawmakers and opposition deputies critical of Guaido were allowed to enter the building.

As scuffles broke out, the US-backed leader tried to mount an iron fence surrounding the legislature, only to be repelled again.

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More News On The Unrest In Venezuela

Guaido blocked from Venezuela’s congress as impasse deepens -- AP
Venezuela Socialists snatch congress from Guaido, opposition denounces coup -- Reuters
Venezuelan opposition denounces ‘parliamentary coup’ as Guaido rival names himself speaker -- France 24
Venezuela crisis: Juan Guaidó rival declares himself new Speaker -- BBC
Venezuela opposition denounces 'parliamentary coup' -- DW
Venezuela's Guaido blocked from Congress in crucial vote -- Al Jazeera
Venezuela opposition legislators re-elect Guaido as congress chief -- Reuters
Venezuela's Maduro says congress has elected new leadership -- Reuters

Is Venezuela And Cuba Behind The Announcement That FARC Will Resume The War?

Prominent members of Colombia’s Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, including Ivan Marquez (center) say they are relaunching the group that demobilized after a 2016 peace deal Screen Grab Courtesy

Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald: Colombia’s armed rebels are back, with Venezuela’s help. This could trigger regional conflict

Many see the announcement by a dissident group of Colombia’s Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC) rebels that they will break a 3-year-old peace deal and resume armed struggle as a domestic problem. But, more likely, it will become a Colombia-Venezuela dispute — and perhaps escalate into a regional conflict.

Colombian President Ivan Duque already has pinned the blame on Venezuela. Hours after the FARC’s Aug. 29 announcement, he said that the leftist rebels are “a narco-terrorist criminal gang that counts on the safe harbor and support of (Venezuelan) dictator Nicolás Maduro.”

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WNU Editor: Venezuela is providing a safe haven for this dissident FARC group and for the ELN. If that is not helping and assisting the fermentation of this war, I then do not know what is. And yes .... this involvement by Venezuela and Cuba will escalate into a regional conflict. Both the Maduro regime in Venezuela and the Cuban government need to deflect the focus of their failed policies and economic mismanagement to something else.

Colombian President Duque Calls For International Action Against Nicolas Maduro's 'Dictatorship' In Venezuela

Colombian President Ivan Duque, who took office in early August 2018, wants international support to help solve the crisis in neighboring Venezuela . AFP

France 24/AFP: Colombia's Duque calls for action against Venezuelan 'dictatorship'

LETICIA (COLOMBIA) (AFP) - Colombian President Ivan Duque is stressing the need for international action to halt Nicolas Maduro's "dictatorship" in Venezuela, which he blames for a "massive humanitarian crisis" and a migration wave.

"The real cause of this migration shock is the dictatorship," the right-wing leader told AFP. "We must use all the diplomatic mechanisms, all the multilateral mechanisms available to allow this dictatorship to end."

During an official visit to France from November 11-13, Duque, who has been in power since August 7, will take part in Sunday's Forum for Peace organized by French President Emmanuel Macron.

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WNU Editor: The Colombian government knows that this is just the tip of the iceberg .... Number of refugees and migrants from Venezuela reaches 3 million (NHCR), with many of these refugees now passing though Colombia and raising concerns like this one .... Colombia’s ELN, Ex-FARC Mafia Recruiting Hungry Venezuela Migrants (Insight Crime).

Colombia Overwhelmed By Desperate Venezuelans Fleeing The Suffering In Their Country

Eager to escape food shortages and hyperinflation, Venezuelans take to Colombia’s main highway leading from the border to the interior of the country.

Wall Street Journal: Colombia Struggles to Control Border Overrun by Desperate Venezuelans

Police commander admits stopping refugees is futile: ‘How are you going to control people when the issue is that they are hungry?’

VILLA DEL ROSARIO, Colombia—To escape Venezuela on a recent day, nine migrants staggered through a thicket of elephant grass, waded the Tachira River with luggage over their heads and scrambled past a farm to reach this backwater crowded with their countrymen.

Like countless others, they had only a few dollars worth of Colombian pesos and a vague plan: Reach a big Colombian city or get as far as Peru, on foot if necessary. First, they had to navigate the clandestine trails of a lawless, sometimes violent border, which growing numbers of destitute and hungry Venezuelans are doing to flee the country.

“Darwin said only the fittest survive, and that’s where we are in Venezuela,” said Jorge Useche, 43 years old, explaining why he’d taken a 10-hour bus ride to the border to cross illegally into Colombia. “It doesn’t matter if you’re an engineer, a firefighter or doctor. If you don’t adapt, you’re not going to survive.”

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WNU Editor: Here is an easy prediction. These numbers are going to get worse.

Colombian President Santos Believes 'Regime Change' Will Be Coming Very Soon To Venezuela

Columbian President Juan Manuel Santos and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban (not pictured) give a statement to the media in Budapest, Hungary, May 11, 2018. REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo

Miami Herald: A 'regime change' is coming very soon to Venezuela — according to Colombia

Bogota, Colombia: Trapped in an economic, social and political crisis, Venezuela will see “regime change” soon, predicted Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, saying the once-rich nation can no longer survive its corrupt leadership.

Speaking at a business conference in Hungary on Friday, Santos called Venezuela one of his country’s “biggest problems,” saying the ongoing humanitarian crisis and exodus of Venezuelan is straining social services.

“Venezuela is the richest country, by far, in Latin America because it has the world’s largest oil reserves, even larger than Saudi Arabia,” Santos said. “And with a change in the regime — which will happen and happen very soon — the Venezuelan economy, with a little bit of good government, will grow rapidly and the opportunities for Colombia will be enormous.”

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Update: Colombia's Santos sees 'regime change' soon in Venezuela (Reuters)

WNU editor: I do not have access to the intelligence that Colombian President Santos has, but I do not share his point of view. The Venezuelan people are hungry and they have been broken, and there are still enough of them who will continue to believe in the Chavez revolution and will support Venezuelan President Maduro to remain in power even if 80% to 90% of the population do not. As for those who oppose the current regime .... the Maduro government is now employing a Castro solution to get rid of them .... they are telling them to leave which millions are now doing .... One Million Venezuelans Have Fled To Colombia In The Past Year (May 10, 2018)

Colombian President Santos: Venezuela Nearing ‘Implosion’

This is the view of the Simon Bolivar International Bridge from above taken at 6 a.m. on a Monday. You can see that there is already quite a bit of traffic as people try to enter Colombia. (Brookings)

Bloomberg: Colombia's Migrant Crisis Worsens With Venezuela Nearing ‘Implosion’

The flow of migrants fleeing Venezuela’s collapsing economy is increasing every day, putting a strain on Colombia’s health and education systems and its jobs market, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said.

“Venezuela is on the verge of imploding,” Santos told Bloomberg TV Monday. “What we hope is that this implosion will be peaceful and not violent, because otherwise we will have a tremendous avalanche of more Venezuelans coming to Colombia.”

The migrant crisis is probably the biggest challenge facing Colombia at the moment, Santos said. Venezuelans are currently crossing the border into Colombia at the rate of more than 100,000 per month, according to data from the immigration authority, with many more arriving illegally.

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Update #1: Colombia border teems as Venezuelans "without anything" flee crisis (Reuters)
Update #2: Venezuela’s refugee crisis: Views from the border (Brookings)

WNU Editor: The Colombian President is wrong. Venezuela is not nearing an "implosion" .... it is already there.

WNU Editor: Beware of doing business in Venezuela .... Exclusive: Arrested Chevron workers could face treason charge in Venezuela - sources (Reuters).

Mass Numbers Of Venezuelans Are Now Fleeing The Country

The main border crossing links Cucuta in Colombia to San Antonio de Tachira in Venezuela

BBC: Colombia says 550,000 Venezuelans have fled to the country

Colombia says the number of Venezuelans fleeing a severe economic crisis to live in Colombia has increased by 62% in the last six months.

Migration officials say more than 550,000 Venezuelans are now living in Colombia, mostly illegally.

The influx is putting pressure on the government especially in border areas to provide the migrants with food, shelter and medical care.

The number of Venezuelans travelling through Colombia has doubled.

Officials say a million Venezuelans have registered for a migration card that allows them to come and go across the border to buy food and other products scarce in their own country.

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WNU Editor: This is the trickle before the flood.

More News On Reports That Hundreds Of Thousands Are Now Fleeing Venezuela

More than half a million Venezuelans have fled to Colombia -- AFP
Venezuelans flock to Colombia in last half of 2017: government -- Reuters
Venezuela crisis sends residents fleeing to nearby countries -- CNN
Venezuela migrant crisis in Colombia: no end in sight -- Colombia Reports
UN chief offers Colombia help with Venezuela migration crisis -- DW

Colombia And Venezuela Agree To A Plan To Partially Reopen The Border

President Nicolas Maduro and President Juan Manuel Santos spent months negotiating a way to reopen the border

BBC: Venezuela and Colombia to partially reopen border

Colombia and Venezuela have agreed to partially reopen their border, almost a year after it was closed.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro announced that the frontier would be opened on Saturday.

During the first stage only pedestrians will be allowed to cross in five places along the 2,200km (1,370 miles) border.

Mr Maduro shut the border on security grounds. Many Colombians were expelled, and bilateral trade has since fallen.

The two presidents said that the five crossings would be open daily from 08:00 to 20:00 local time (13:00-01:00 GMT).

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Update: Venezuela and Colombia plan to reopen border (DW)

WNU Editor: Venezuela is in chaos right now .... Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro had no option but to agree to this partial border opening.

Colombia Facing A Massive Migrant Crisis From People Fleeing Venezuela

Venezuelans carrying groceries cross the Simon Bolivar bridge from Cucuta in Colombia back to San Antonio de Tachira in Venezuela, on July 17, 2016 (AFP Photo/George Castellanos)

AFP: Venezuelans fleeing crisis flood into Colombia: UN

Bogota (AFP) - Venezuela's economic crisis has sent a huge but largely ignored wave of people into Colombia, and many more could be on the way, a senior UN refugee official said.

"It's a silent arrival of a lot of people who are crossing the border and staying illegally on the Colombian side," said Martin Gottwald, the United Nations Refugee Agency's representative in Colombia.

No exact figures are available, but the number of Venezuelans fleeing to Colombia is already "quite large," and Colombia should prepare itself for more, Gottwald told AFP in an interview.

"The avalanche is probably going to increase, with or without the reopening of the border," he said.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro closed the countries' border in August 2015 after an attack on an army patrol. He blamed right-wing paramilitaries from Colombia.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: I have friends who live in neighbouring Guyana .... they tell me that they are now seeing Venezuelans everywhere, and these people have no interest in going back home. In a country (Guyana) with a population of only 800,000 .... they are not prepared for the possible migration of hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans. But it is Colombia that is going to face the brunt of these migrants, and they are not projecting a crisis situation by next year.

Venezuela Opens Its Borders For 12 Hours For Its Citizens To Cross Into Colombia To Buy Food And Medicines

Al Jazeera: Thousands of Venezuelans pour into Colombia to buy food

Tens of thousands cross into Colombia after border opens briefly for the first time in nearly a year.

Tens of thousands of Venezuelans have poured across into neighbouring Colombia to buy basic goods amid shortages at home, during a brief opening of the border that has been closed for almost a year.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro closed the border in August 2015, citing smuggling and penetration by Colombian fighters. On Sunday, he authorised a 12-hour opening of the pedestrian bridge that connects Tachira, in Venezuela, and Cucuta, in Colombia, for the first time in 11 months.

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WNU Editor: Venezuela has closed the border again, but I suspect that the next time this happens the numbers will be even greater.

More News On Venezuela Opening Its Borders To Colombia

Venezuelans cross into Colombia to buy food -- BBC
35,000 Venezuelans cross into Colombia to buy food, medicine -- UPI
25,000 Venezuelans cross into Colombia as border reopens -- DW
Venezuelans Stream Into Colombia to Buy Food, Medicine -- VOA
In just 12 hours, more than 35K Venezuelans cross Colombian border to buy food, medicine -- FOX News/EFE
Thousands of Venezuelans cross temporary open border into Colombia to buy food -- IBTimes

Colombia And Venezuela Restore Diplomatic Ties, But The Border Remains Closed

Colombia Reports: Colombia and Venezuela restore diplomatic ties, but border remains closed

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro agreed on Monday to re-open their embassies in an attempt to ease tensions over an ongoing border crisis.

The two heads of state met in the Ecuadorean capital Quito for the first time after a month of tensions.

Following the shooting of three Venezuelan soldiers near the border with Colombia, Maduro decided to close the main border crossing and deported more than a 1,000 Colombians within days.

More News On Colombia And Venezuela Restoring Diplomatic Ties

Venezuela and Colombia to normalise ties after border row -- BBC
Colombia and Venezuela Agree to Normalize Relations After Border Dispute -- Time
Colombia, Venezuela to normalize relations amid border crisis -- UPI
Colombia, Venezuela to normalize ties after border row -- Deutsche Welle
Colombia, Venezuela Agree to Send Ambassadors Back to Posts -- AP

Venezuelan Soldiers Have Entered Colombia In Hot Pursuit Of Smugglers

Reuters: Venezuelan soldiers entered Colombia, fired weapons - Colombian army

Members of Venezuela's national guard crossed into Colombia on Friday, firing their weapons and setting a motorcycle on fire, the Colombian army said, amid an on-going diplomatic crisis between the two countries.

About 15 Venezuelan soldiers entered Maicao municipality in eastern La Guajira province in apparent pursuit of an individual on a motorcycle who had attempted to cross the border into Venezuela, the Colombian army said in a statement.

Relations between the South American neighbors have been tense since Venezuela closed major border crossings in recent weeks a

Update: Colombia says Venezuelan troops crossed border illegally -- AP

WNU Editor: A rogue operation .... a situation that got out of hand .... or a deliberate Venezuelan sanctioned operation .... we do not know the answers yet. But what we do know is that tensions on the Colombian-Venezuelan border have just increased.

Growing Fears In Colombia Of A Possible Border War With Venezuela

Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos (R) greets Venezuela's national guards during a visit to Paraguachon border with Venezuela, Colombia, September 15, 2015, in this handout photo provided by Colombian Presidency. REUTERS/EFRAIN HERRERA/COLOMBIAN PRESIDENCY/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS

Reuters: Nearly half of Colombians fear Venezuela war over border crisis: poll

Nearly half of Colombians fear a diplomatic dispute that began last month when Venezuela closed several border crossings and deported thousands of Colombians, could lead to war, a survey released on Tuesday showed.

Forty-three percent of people in a Cifras y Conceptos poll published by Caracol Radio and Red + Noticias said they fear the crisis could lead to military conflict between the two countries. Twenty percent said they were afraid more Colombians would be expelled from Venezuela.

The South American neighbors could break diplomatic relations, 19 percent said, while 13 percent believe Venezuelans could leave their country for Colombia. The countries share a long and porous border plagued by drug trafficking, paramilitaries, left-wing guerrillas and smugglers.

WNU Editor: The Colombian President has a point when he says that that tensions with Venezuela can be defused very quickly .... Colombia's president says Venezuela gestures could solve border spat (Reuters). Unfortunately .... it appears that Venezuela is more focused on doing this .... Colombia accuses Venezuela of new airspace violation (AFP). As to why is Venezuela acting the way that it is .... there is probably some truth in this analysis .... Venezuela's President Starts to Look Desperate (Mac Margolis, Bloomberg).

Colombia Accuses Venezuela Of Sending Military Jets Into Colombian Airspace

Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos, left, gives a speech next to Defense Minister Luis Carlos Villegas at the presidential palace in Bogota September 9, 2015. Reuters/Efrain Herrera/Colombian Presidency/Handout

BBC: Venezuelan military jets 'entered Colombian airspace'

Colombia has said that two Venezuelan military jets entered its airspace without warning or authorisation.

The planes encroached into Colombian airspace twice on Saturday morning, according to the defence ministry.

They reportedly flew over a border military base in the Alta Guajira region before returning to Venezuela.

Colombian officials have demanded an explanation from Venezuela, which has yet to comment. Relations between the two countries have been tense.

"Initially the Venezuelan military planes entered 2.9km (1.8 miles) into Colombian airspace," a statement from Colombia's Ministry of Defence said.

The jets then returned to Venezuela and crossed into Colombian airspace again, "flying over a military base in the La Flor region".

More News On Venezuelan Military Jets Crossing Into Colombia

Colombia complains of Venezuelan military overflight -- AP
Venezuelan warplanes cross into Colombian airspace -- AFP
Colombia Says Venezuela Military Planes Crossed Into Territory -- Bloomberg
Colombia to protest Venezuela for military flyover -- Reuters
Colombia Accuses Venezuelan Military Planes Of Invading Airspace -- IBTimes
Colombia seeks explanation from Venezuela for military flyover -- Reuters

Venezuela Extends Border Closures With Colombia

BBC: Venezuela extends border closures with Colombia

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has extended border closures with Colombia to another six towns in the western state of Tachira.

Mr Maduro also announced the deployment of an extra 3,000 troops in the area, which he says has been infiltrated by Colombian paramilitaries and gangs.

The main crossings were closed a week ago after Venezuelan soldiers were injured in a shootout with smugglers.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos criticised Mr Maduro's unilateral move.

More than 1,000 Colombians have been deported and about 6,000 have left in fear since the border closures.

More News On Venezuela Extending Its Border Closures With Colombia

Venezuela-Colombia border crisis -- Reuters
Venezuela announces extension of border closure despite protests from Colombia -- CTV/AP
Venezuela expands Colombian border closure -- AFP
Venezuela Crackdown Sows Chaos Along Colombian Border -- WSJ
Maduro escalates conflict with Colombia as he looks to December's election -- Merco Press
VenEconomy: Colombia Border Conflict Backfiring on Venezuela's Maduro? -- Latin American Herald Tribune
Venezuelan row with Colombia an election ploy: analysts -- AFP

Colombians Flee Venezuela As Border Tensions Increase

BBC: Colombians leave Venezuela in droves over border crisis

More than 1,000 Colombians who were living in Venezuela have crossed into Colombia as a border spat between the two neighbours intensifies.

Last week, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro ordered the closure of a border post near the city of Cucuta.

He also announced that Colombians living illegally in Venezuela would be deported.

The move followed an incident last Wednesday when smugglers injured three Venezuelan soldiers and a civilian.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez is due to meet her Colombian counterpart Maria Angela Holguin later on Wednesday to discuss the crisis.

WNU Editor: It looks like the Venezuelan President is looking for scapegoats to divert attention from his country's economic/political crisis .... but I will not be surprised if this is going to backfire on him .... especially the Colombian government. But for the moment .... from the Venezuelan government's point of view .... they are battling against paramilitaries from Colombia who have infiltrated in Venezuela .... The Infiltration of Colombian Paramilitaries into Venezuela (Venezuela Analysis).

More News On Colombians Fleeing Venezuela As Border Tensions Rise

Colombians flee homes in Venezuela amid border crackdown -- AP
Shaken by deportations, Colombians in Venezuela fret for future -- Reuters
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro Deploys Army to Deport Colombians -- WSJ
Hundreds of distraught Colombians flee Venezuela as border dispute intensifies -- The Telegraph
Desperation mounts as 1,000 Colombians flee Venezuela amid border dispute -- FOX News
Venezuela-Colombia row drives out poor border residents -- Euronews
'I lost everything overnight': Colombians are fleeing Venezuela with all of their possessions amid border crackdown -- Business Insider/Reuters
Venezuela’s expulsion of border Colombians fills resettlement camps to overflowing -- Euronews

Growing Tensions On the Colombia - Venezuela Border

Bloomberg: Venezuela Calls for Colombia Border Crackdown After Attack

President Nicolas Maduro said he would work with Colombia’s government to normalize conditions at their shared border after Venezuelan soldiers were injured by alleged Colombian smugglers yesterday.

“We’re victims and we need to take extraordinary measures to fight these circumstances,” Maduro said, blaming the porous border for an increase in drug and gasoline smuggling and an “exodus” of migrants from Colombia he said are fleeing poverty in the neighboring country.

Maduro ordered the closure of Venezuela’s border with Colombia in the country’s western Tachira state late Wednesday for 72 hours after three soldiers were injured in a contraband raid. Two soldiers remain in critical condition, he said.

WNU Editor: Smuggling is becoming the only growth industry in Venezuela .... this attack only illustrates how desperate people are becoming.

More News On The Growing Tensions On the Colombia - Venezuela Border

Maduro sends more troops to Venezuela-Colombia border after soldiers attacked -- FOX News/AP
Venezuela closes border with Colombia after three soldiers injured in attack -- UPI
Venezuela shuts two border crossings with Colombia after shoot-out -- Reuters
Venezuela Temporarily Closes Border With Colombia After Attack On 3 Soldiers -- IBTimes
Venezuela closes border with Colombia after attack on soldiers -- Colombia Reports
Venezuela closes key crossing with Colombia after three soldiers shot -- The Guardian/AP

Venezuela Breaks Diplomatic Relations With Colombia

Venezuela Breaks Diplomatic Ties With Colombia -- Voice of America

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has severed diplomatic relations with neighboring Colombia after Bogota accused his country of harboring leftist guerrillas.

President Chavez made the announcement on national television Thursday, saying he was forced to sever all relations because Colombia claims he has failed to act against rebels who allegedly have taken shelter in Venezuelan territory. Mr. Chavez also said he has ordered Venezuelan military forces to be on "maximum alert" along the border.

Read more ....

More News On Colombian -- Venezuelan Relations

Venezuela severs ties with Colombia -- AP
Venezuela breaks ties with Colombia over rebel row -- AFP
Chavez breaks Colombia ties over rebel charges -- Reuters
Venezuela Cuts Ties With Colombia -- Wall Street Journal
Venezuela breaks relations with Colombia -- CNN
Colombia recalls envoy from Venezuela over rebels row -- Reuters
Colombia recalls envoy from Venezuela amid rebel row -- BBC
Colombia recalls Caracas ambassador -- Sydney Morning herald
FACTBOX-History of tensions between Venezuela and Colombia -- Reuters