Venezuelan row with Colombia an election ploy: analysts

[Zorro]

The escalating row over Venezuela's mass deportations of Colombians is less about neighborly strains than the economic crisis, crippling shortages and dismal popularity ratings facing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, analysts said Friday.

The images of desperate Colombians streaming across the border with their belongings strapped to their backs captured international attention this week after Maduro's socialist government deported 1,000 Colombians and frightened thousands more into fleeing preemptively.

But as Venezuela lashed out at Colombia, accusing it of turning a blind eye to smugglers, paramilitary fighters and drug traffickers operating in the border zone, experts said the crisis had more to do with domestic politics and the legislative elections Maduro's movement risks losing on December 6.

"It's part of the smokescreen around the elections," said Francine Jacome, head of the Venezuelan Institute of Social and Political Studies.

http://news.yahoo.com/venezuelan-row-colombia-election-ploy-analysts-220608789.html

[COLGATE4]

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