Chávez sends tanks to Colombia border
Tensions between the radical government of Venezuela and pro-US Colombia reached new heights on Sunday after Hugo Chávez apparently ordered the mobilisation of his air force and ordered tank battalions to move to the frontier between the two countries.
The announcement, made on the Venezuelan president’s weekly television show Aló Presidente, came a day after Colombian forces killed a senior commander of the leftwing Farc guerrilla movement in an attack in Ecuador, Venezuela’s ally.
Mr Chávez ordered Venezuela’s embassy in Colombia to be closed. “Mr defence minister, move me 10 battalions to the frontier with Colombia immediately, tank battalions. The air force should mobilise.”
Mr Chávez earlier warned Colombia not to repeat its counter-insurgency actions inside Venezuela, suggesting that this could spark a war. However, on his show Mr Chávez apparently upped the stakes. “I am putting Venezuela on alert and we will support Ecuador in whatever circumstances.”
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