Threat of Conflict in South America

CUCUTA, COLOMBIA, March 5, 2008 — -- Venezuela and Ecuador took their growingconflict with Colombia to the diplomatic front, seekinginternational condemnation on Wednesday of Colombia's deadlyassault on a rebel base in Ecuador.

The two countries tightened their borders and were deployingthousands of troops, while Colombia on Tuesday pointed to documentsfound in a slain rebel leader's laptop that it claimed was proof ofstunning links between the leftist guerrillas and Venezuelan leaderHugo Chavez.

Ecuador rejected a Colombian apology for the cross-border strikeas insufficient, and sought to rally opposition during an emergencymeeting of the Organization of American States that was called tohelp defuse one of South America's most volatile crises in years.

The OAS ambassadors struggled over wording of a resolution onTuesday, but Ecuador and Colombia finally reached agreement onWednesday, said Colombian Ambassador Camilo Ospina. He said thedocument, to be released later, included a call for a commissionheaded by Secretary-General Jose Miguel Insulza to ease tensions.

At Venezuela's border with Colombia, National Guard troopsturned back Colombian cargo trucks under orders from Caracas. Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa began a six-nation tour inPeru and Brazil, calling Colombian President Alvaro Uribe a liarwho "wanted war." Correa warned that if the attack goesunpunished, "the region will be in danger, because the next victimcould be Peru, it could be Brazil, Venezuela, Bolivia, any one ofour countries."

At the moment, it's mostly a war of words, and other nationshave tried to keep it that way, although many said Colombia waswrong to send troops into Ecuador. The military assault on Saturdaykilled 24 guerrillas, including Colombian rebel spokesman RaulReyes, who was engaged in hostage talks with Venezuela, France andother countries.

President Bush backed Colombia and accused Chavez of"provocative maneuvers." Uribe said Chavez should be prosecuted before the InternationalCriminal Court for allegedly financing the Revolutionary ArmedForces of Colombia, or FARC. Uribe said documents found in a laptopseized in Reyes' camp showed Venezuela recently made a $300 millionpayment to the rebels.