Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it
exclusively produces is in the public domain.
March 9, 2009

Venezuela's Chavez Warns Colombia Against Cross-Border Raids
------------------------------------------------------------

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=22C0278:A6F02AD83191E160230F01EC6DD01A64A13B8D4F2090AB2B&
 
President says he will respond to Colombian troops pursuing rebels into
Venezuelan territory by deploying warplanes and tanks 
Hugo Chavez (file photo)Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez has warned
Colombia against sending troops into Venezuelan territory in pursuit of
rebels. Speaking on his weekly television and radio program Sunday, Mr.
Chavez said he would respond to any such Colombian incursion by
deploying Venezuelan warplanes and tanks. Colombian Defense Minister
Juan Manuel Santos said earlier this month Bogota has a right to pursue
terrorists attacking his country wherever they are. Colombian troops
raided a FARC rebel camp in Ecuador last March, killing 20 people,
including senior rebel Raul Reyes. President Chavez says Santos would be
foolish to authorize a similar incursion into Venezuela. Mr. Chavez says
he spoke Saturday with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe and reiterated
that Venezuela does not seek a conflict with Colombia. Mr. Chavez has
called Santos a threat to peace in South America and a pawn of the
United States. The Venezuelan leader responded to Colombia's 2008 raid
into Ecuador by sending Venezuelan troops to the border with Colombia.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP.


.