Chavez: Colombia Seeks War With Venezuela

13 May 2008

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has accused neighboring Colombia of trying to provoke a war in order to justify a U.S. intervention in Venezuela.

Hugo Chavez

President Chavez made the accusation Sunday during his weekly radio broadcast.

Both Colombia and the United States have dismissed similar statements by Mr. Chavez.

The remarks came days after U.S. intelligence sources said that documents seized by Colombian forces during a raid on FARC, Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia rebels in Ecuador showed Venezuela had deeper ties with the rebels than previously thought.

Officials said files found on a FARC leader's computer indicated Venezuelan officials met with leaders of the FARC.

Mr. Chavez said he was not linked to the rebels and that the computer files were fake.

FARC leader Raul Reyes was killed in the March raid by Colombian forces. Ecuador and Venezuela responded to the raid by mobilizing forces on their borders with Colombia.