Venezuela has begun mobilizing its forces by air, land and sea in a dispute with Colombia, Venezuela's defense minister said Wednesday, escalating a regional crisis.
A Venezuelan general said the movement of troops to the zone near Colombia's border is mostly completed, according to the Associated Press.
The two countries have tightened their borders and are deploying thousands of troops, while Colombia yesterday pointed to documents found in a slain rebel leader's laptop. The country claims the documents are proof of links between the leftist guerrillas and Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez.
Ecuador has rejected a Colombian apology for the cross-border strike and is trying to rally opposition during an emergency meeting of the Organization of American States in Washington.
At Venezuela's border with Colombia, National Guard troops turned back Colombian cargo trucks under orders from the government.
President Bush yesterday backed Colombia and accused Chavez of "provocative maneuvers."
