Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has raised tensions with Colombia over a US troop plan by accusing his neighbour of sending an army patrol over their Orinoco River border and ending a Colombian gasoline subsidy.
Chavez made his remarks on the eve of a regional summit in Ecuador, where the persistent Washington critic will try to fuel opposition to a Colombian plan to allow US troops more access to seven of its military bases.
Colombia denied Chavez's charge of a military incursion after the defence ministry consulted with commanders in the border area.
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, a staunch US ally, says the troop plan is necessary to fight drug traffickers. But Chavez claims a greater US presence in the region is a direct threat to him and risks sparking war in South America.
His comments may be aimed at increasing pressure on Mr Uribe ahead of the Quito meeting and came just hours after Colombian forces captured 11 Ecuadorean troops who had crossed over another border but were quickly sent back.
Chavez often claims the United States wants to provoke war between Colombia and Venezuela to win access to the Opec nation's huge oil reserves.
Speaking on his weekly television show, Chavez said he had been informed Colombian soldiers crossed the Orinoco River border in a small boat although he said the vessel had gone by the time Venezuelan troops arrived to check.
"This is a provocation by the government of Uribe, that's the Yankees there, the Yankees have started to command Colombian military forces," said Chavez, who often uses incendiary words against Colombia but then backs down.
Reuters