Venezuela accuses Colombians of spying while helping investigate killings of 10 men on border

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Venezuela accuses Colombians of spying while helping investigate killings of 10 men on border
Associated Press
Last update: October 26, 2009 - 10:22 PM

CARACAS, Venezuela - President Hugo Chavez's government accused Colombia on Monday of using its state security agency to spy on Venezuela while purportedly helping investigate the killings of eight Colombians. Venezuela sent a diplomatic protest note saying officials of Colombia's DAS state security agency were "detected carrying out espionage work and attempting to bribe." Venezuela did not give details in its statement but said authorities seized documents referring to a conspiracy to destabilize its government. It also demanded the DAS halt the espionage.

Colombia has offered help in investigating the slayings of 10 men — eight Colombians, a Venezuelan and a Peruvian — whose bodies were found in the Venezuelan border state of Tachira on Saturday. Venezuelan authorities have said relatives told them the men were kidnapped from a soccer field where their team was playing near the border Oct. 11.

The killings, which Venezuela says were likely carried out by one of the warring factions in Colombia's conflict, appear to be exacerbating already hostile relations between Chavez's government and the U.S.-allied administration in Bogota.

Colombian Foreign Minister Jaime Bermudez said it remains unclear what sort of armed group killed the men, or why. He said there are various hypotheses, including that the violence involved criminal organizations or guerrillas or militias.


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