Venezuela decrees state of general alert
Updated: 2008-03-06 09:38
CARACAS - The Venezuelan government decreed on Wednesday state of general alert, completing 90 percent deployment of its military force in zones bordering with Colombia.
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"The mobilization of the National Armed Forces (FAN) is not against the Colombian people," said Rangel at Fort Tiuna, headquarters of the Defense Ministry.
Rangel stated that Colombia headed by President Alvaro Uribe is being used by the United States to take over Venezuela's oil.
On Sunday, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez ordered the envoy of 10 battalions to its border with Colombia after Colombia's Armed Forces headed an aerial and land attack against Colombian rebels in Ecuadorian territory.
Chavez broke relations with Bogota and stated that Colombia headed by Uribe had become the United States' "Israel" of South America to attack the leftist governments in the region.
The United States reiterated on Monday its support to Colombia, its closest ally in South America.
Venezuela's 2,200 kilometers border with Colombia is on state of general alert, Rangel said, although he has not revealed how many soldiers, combat tanks and airplanes have been mobilized to that border.
The Venezuelan people will be able to sleep calmly amidst the general alert since the FAN will impede the intrusion of Colombian troops, said Rangel.
Venezuela condemned the aerial and land attack headed by the Colombian Armed Forces against a rebel base in Ecuador resulting in the death of at least 21 people, including rebel chief Edgar Devia ("Raul Reyes).
Venezuela considered Colombia's incursion a violation of Ecuador's sovereignty. Quito and Venezuela immediately broke relations with Bogota and mobilized military forces towards its borders with Colombia.
In May of 2004, the Venezuelan government arrested 80 paramilitaries and stated that President Uribe had sent them to destabilize and attack Venezuela and in December of 2004 Colombian agents kidnapped a guerrilla troop in Caracas.
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