Venezuela Accused of Bridge Bombings
2009-11-20 9:46
Colombia's government says Venezuelan soldiers have blown up two small pedestrian bridges that stretch across their border. Colombia's Defense Minister says the incident is a violation of international law.
[Gabriel Silva, Colombian Defense Minister]:
"Today in the north of Santander, in the town of Ragonvalia, uniformed men that had arrived to the Venezuelan side in SUVs and apparently were Venezuelan army members, found two community pedestrian bridges linking the communities on both sides, civilian bridges constructed by locals, and they dynamited the bridges on the Venezuelan side affecting the normal life of the community in the area."
This is the latest incident to test diplomatic ties between the two Andean neighbors. Colombia plans to allow the United States more access to its military bases as part of anti-drug and counter-insurgency cooperation against leftist guerrillas.
The Venezuelan President has sent more troops to the border. Hugo Chavez told his military commanders to "prepare for war" because he says the U.S. base plan could be used to stage an invasion of his nation.
