Venezuela suspends ties with Colombia
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-01-15 14:09

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Friday that diplomatic and commercial relations with Colombia would be put on hold until it apologizes for paying bounty hunters to abduct a rebel leader from inside Venezuela, insisting the neighboring country's actions were indefensible.

But Colombian President Alvaro Uribe offered no apologies later Friday, saying his country had a "right to free itself from the nightmare of terrorism."

The sharply worded statements came a day after Venezuela announced it had recalled its ambassador in response to Colombia's admission it paid bounty hunters to capture Rodrigo Granda, a member of the rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC.

The issue has become the most serious dispute in years between the South American neighbors, which have managed to smooth over repeated disagreements stemming from border security and policies toward rebels in Colombia's 40-year-old war.

"With much pain I have recalled the ambassador in Bogota and he will not return until the Colombian government offers us apologies," Chavez told the National Assembly. "I've ordered all agreements and business with Colombia to be paralyzed."

Venezuelan authorities called the Dec. 13 capture of Granda in Caracas a violation of sovereignty, saying Colombia sent police and bribed local authorities to help abduct him.

"It is unjustifiable that high Colombian officials are bribing Venezuelan authorities," Chavez told lawmakers.

Uribe later defended Colombian police in a statement from his office, saying they "explained clearly ... they have not violated Venezuela's sovereignty."

Uribe called the use of bounty hunters a "legitimate instrument" to fight terrorism and said "the United Nations prohibits member nations from providing safe haven to terrorists in an 'active or passive' manner."

He also reiterated Colombia's desire to have good relations with Venezuela.

Chavez responded later Friday during the swearing-in of a state oil company board, saying he hoped "this lamentable episode may be resolved ... as soon as possible, but it doesn't just depend on us — it depends above all on the government of Colombia."

"I hope they reflect," Chavez said. "There is no justification for this attitude, and it is worrying that the government is assuming the defense of the crime."

Chavez said his order included the suspension of plans to build a $200 million natural gas pipeline from Venezuela to Colombia's Pacific coast, which would allow Venezuelan fuel to be more easily shipped to Asia and the U.S. west coast.

Foreign Minister Ali Rodriguez said in a statement late Friday that Chavez's decision would not mean a break in diplomatic relations, despite the fact that Ambassador Carlos Santiago Ramirez was recalled for consultations.

"We are not closing our embassy in Bogota," Rodriguez said. He added that "talks and business" were "paralyzed."

Rodriguez called for "a clear position" from Colombia but said "we are convinced that President Uribe does not know the truth of the acts."

Venezuelan Prosecutor General Isaias Rodriguez, meanwhile, told the state news agency Venpres prosecutors were taking legal action against Colombian Defense Minister Jorge Alberto Uribe following statements acknowledging a payment for the rebel's capture.

He said prosecutors also would move against a Colombian police officer who entered Venezuela to help coordinate the capture. Once the "penal responsibility" for those acts has been determined, Rodriguez said, "we are going to request from Colombian the extradition of high-ranking Colombian officials who are responsible for that crime."

Five Venezuelan National Guard troops and three army officers have been detained for involvement.

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