Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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December 2, 2007

Chavez Accuses Colombia of Sabotage in Rebel Talks
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1A71A68:A6F02AD83191E1600BCC7BBCDD08032FF47489ACC27D21EE& Venezuelan
President says Colombian president ordered him to stop his efforts to
negotiate release of hostages held by leftist rebels Venezuela's
President Hugo Chavez has accused Colombia again of sabotaging a
humanitarian deal that he was trying to negotiate with Colombian
rebels. In Caracas, VOA's Brian Wagner reports Mr. Chavez claimed his
efforts were advancing until Colombia's president ordered him to stop.







Hugo Chavez displays a letter he says is signed by rebel leader Manuel
Marulanda during a news conference in Caracas, 01 Dec 07President
Chavez said he believed Colombian rebel leader Manuel Marulanda was
prepared to release some of the hostages his group is holding, before
Colombia's government asked him to stop working with the rebel.

In August, Colombian President Alvaro Uribe asked Mr. Chavez to
negotiate with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, to
free hostages in exchange for the release of jailed rebels. But Mr.
Uribe ended the efforts last week, saying the Venezuelan leader had
improper contacts with Colombia's army chief.

Speaking to foreign journalists in Caracas on Saturday, Mr. Chavez
claimed the communication was no more than a brief telephone call. And
he questioned the commitment of Colombia's government to securing a
deal to end decades of violence with leftist rebels.

Mr. Chavez said the Colombian government does not want a humanitarian
deal, because as soon as there is the possibility to achieve one, the
government resorts to sabotage.

The Venezuelan leader also alleged that U.S. officials took part in
the decision to end his negotiation efforts, and alleged that CIA
operatives in Colombia were prepared to kill him if he traveled to
meet rebel leaders.







Photo released by Colombian government on 30 Nov 2007 shows former
presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt in unknown locationDuring a
raid in Bogota this week, Colombian authorities seized videos and
photographs of some of the hostages, including three American
contractors and a former Colombian presidential candidate. Officials
also found letters from some of the hostages, who have been held for
more than four years in jungle camps.

President Chavez said the images were recorded in October as part of
his mediation efforts and were being sent to him in Venezuela when
they were seized. He criticized Colombian authorities for ordering the
raid, in which three people were arrested.

In Colombia, Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo defended the
decision to end Mr. Chavez's involvement, saying his actions had been
erratic and unproductive.

The discovery of the FARC documents has raised fresh hope among
relatives of some of the hostages that their loved ones will be
released. Some family members have asked President Uribe to allow Mr.
Chavez to resume his mission, but Colombian officials have rejected
that possibility.




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