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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| US 'violated Venezuelan airspace' | US 'violated Venezuelan airspace' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Venezuela has denounced an alleged violation of its airspace by an American military aircraft. | Venezuela has denounced an alleged violation of its airspace by an American military aircraft. |
| Defence Minister Gustavo Rangel said the jet had been tracked by country's air defences over the Venezuelan-owned island of La Orchila on Saturday. | |
| He said the US ambassador would be summoned to provide an explanation. | He said the US ambassador would be summoned to provide an explanation. |
| Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a fierce critic of Washington, has in the past accused the US administration of destabilising his country. | Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a fierce critic of Washington, has in the past accused the US administration of destabilising his country. |
| Mr Rangel told a news conference that the US aircraft "practically flew over" La Orchila - where Venezuela has a military base - and another island before turning back. | |
| "We ordered the airplane to identify itself," he added. | "We ordered the airplane to identify itself," he added. |
| "We have recorded proof of the conversation between ground control in Venezuela and the aircraft pilot." | "We have recorded proof of the conversation between ground control in Venezuela and the aircraft pilot." |
| Asked about the accusation, US embassy spokeswoman Robin Holzhauer told the Associated Press news agency: "We're looking into any possible accidental incursion of Venezuelan airspace." | Asked about the accusation, US embassy spokeswoman Robin Holzhauer told the Associated Press news agency: "We're looking into any possible accidental incursion of Venezuelan airspace." |
| Mr Rangel said the incident was "the latest step in a series of provocations" by the US. | |
| The allegations come two days after Venezuela accused troops from Colombia, a US ally, of crossing into its territory. | |
| The foreign ministry said 60 Colombian soldiers were found on the Venezuelan side of the border on Friday. | |
| Colombia denied the claim. | |
| Colombia has accused Venezuela of supplying funding and arms to the left-wing rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc). | |
| The Colombian government said it had found evidence of such support on a computer seized from a bombed rebel camp. | |
| The international police agency Interpol last week said it found no evidence of Colombian tampering with the documents, but Mr Chavez insists he has provided no support to the Farc. |