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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Venezuela 'sends tanks to border' | Venezuela 'sends tanks to border' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is sending thousands of troops and tanks to the border with Colombia, marking a sharp escalation in regional tensions. | Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is sending thousands of troops and tanks to the border with Colombia, marking a sharp escalation in regional tensions. |
| Speaking on his weekly television show, President Chavez also said Venezuela's embassy in Colombia would close. | Speaking on his weekly television show, President Chavez also said Venezuela's embassy in Colombia would close. |
| Mr Chavez said he was reacting to the "cowardly murder" of a leading Farc rebel by Colombian forces in a raid just inside Ecuador on Saturday. | Mr Chavez said he was reacting to the "cowardly murder" of a leading Farc rebel by Colombian forces in a raid just inside Ecuador on Saturday. |
| Later, Ecuador recalled its ambassador to Bogota in protest at the incursion. | Later, Ecuador recalled its ambassador to Bogota in protest at the incursion. |
| Raul Reyes and at least 16 other rebels were killed in the operation, which took place about 1.8km (one mile) inside Ecuadorean territory. | Raul Reyes and at least 16 other rebels were killed in the operation, which took place about 1.8km (one mile) inside Ecuadorean territory. |
| 'Invasion' | 'Invasion' |
| Mr Chavez has been mediating with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - or Farc - to secure the release of hostages the rebels hold, and six have so far been freed under this initiative. | Mr Chavez has been mediating with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - or Farc - to secure the release of hostages the rebels hold, and six have so far been freed under this initiative. |
| Farc 'invincibility' shattered class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7274209.stm">Analysis: War talk | |
| But he lamented the killing of Reyes - whom he called a "good revolutionary" - when he spoke on his show, "Alo, Presidente". | But he lamented the killing of Reyes - whom he called a "good revolutionary" - when he spoke on his show, "Alo, Presidente". |
| Colombia's defence minister had described the death of Reyes as the "biggest blow so far" to Farc. | Colombia's defence minister had described the death of Reyes as the "biggest blow so far" to Farc. |
| But Mr Chavez described the strike as "a cowardly murder, all of it coldly calculated". | But Mr Chavez described the strike as "a cowardly murder, all of it coldly calculated". |
| He said Colombia "invaded Ecuador, flagrantly violated Ecuador's sovereignty". | He said Colombia "invaded Ecuador, flagrantly violated Ecuador's sovereignty". |
| Mr Chavez addressed his defence minister, asking him to "move 10 battalions to the border with Colombia for me, immediately" - a deployment likely to involve several thousand soldiers. | Mr Chavez addressed his defence minister, asking him to "move 10 battalions to the border with Colombia for me, immediately" - a deployment likely to involve several thousand soldiers. |
| "The air force should mobilise. We do not want war. But we are not going to let them... come and divide and weaken us." | "The air force should mobilise. We do not want war. But we are not going to let them... come and divide and weaken us." |
| He ordered the Venezuelan embassy in Bogota closed and said all embassy personnel would be withdrawn. | He ordered the Venezuelan embassy in Bogota closed and said all embassy personnel would be withdrawn. |
| Mr Chavez had earlier warned Bogota that any incursion into Venezuelan territory similar to Saturday's operation would be a "cause for war". | Mr Chavez had earlier warned Bogota that any incursion into Venezuelan territory similar to Saturday's operation would be a "cause for war". |
| Ecuador anger | Ecuador anger |
| Later, Ecuador announced that it too was taking punitive measures against what it terms an illegal incursion, and had recalled its envoy to Colombia. | Later, Ecuador announced that it too was taking punitive measures against what it terms an illegal incursion, and had recalled its envoy to Colombia. |
| But this is not a full severance of ties, as commercial relations will remain intact, said officials at the country's foreign ministry. | But this is not a full severance of ties, as commercial relations will remain intact, said officials at the country's foreign ministry. |
| In his address, Mr Chavez said Ecuador's President Rafael Correa had also agreed to send troops to the border, Associated Press news agency reported. | In his address, Mr Chavez said Ecuador's President Rafael Correa had also agreed to send troops to the border, Associated Press news agency reported. |
| President Correa has complained to the Colombian government about its incursion, calling it "scandalous", and a formal protest has been lodged with Bogota. | President Correa has complained to the Colombian government about its incursion, calling it "scandalous", and a formal protest has been lodged with Bogota. |
| Colombia's government has received billions of dollars in aid from Washington to fight the guerrillas - as the US, along with the EU, views Farc as a terrorist organisation. | Colombia's government has received billions of dollars in aid from Washington to fight the guerrillas - as the US, along with the EU, views Farc as a terrorist organisation. |
| Colombian troops have recently retaken control of areas previously held by rebel groups, but Farc retains a strong hold over Colombia's more remote regions. | Colombian troops have recently retaken control of areas previously held by rebel groups, but Farc retains a strong hold over Colombia's more remote regions. |