Colombia has detained four members of the Venezuelan national guard on Colombian soil as tensions continue to mount between the South American neighbours.
The four soldiers who were captured in Colombian territory will be repatriated in a bid to ease tensions between the South American neighbours, President Alvaro Uribe's government said yesterday.
The Colombian navy intercepted the men Friday in El Aceitico along the border, according to a statement by Colombia's DAS intelligence agency. It said they were traveling in a boat, inside which Venezuelan military uniforms were found.
Long-standing tensions have worsened in recent months over Colombia's agreement to give the US military more access to its bases — a deal that Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez calls a threat to his country.
President Chavez ordered his military last weekend to prepare for possible war with Colombia in case the US attempts to provoke one.
There also have been several shootings and slayings the past few weeks along the Venezuela-Colombia border.
Speaking yesterday, Mr Uribe said that the detained Venezuelan soldiers will be sent home.
"They should carry a message. And the message is that here, there is affection for the brother people of Venezuela," he said.
The DAS statement said Colombia hopes Venezuela will respond in kind by promptly returning a detective who was detained by Venezuelan authorities while 'on holiday'.
AP