US urges Venezuela to cooperate on FARC investigation

Jul 23, 2010, 20:20 GMT

Washington - Colombia's accusation that Venezuela is harboring FARC rebels 'merits further investigation,' the US State Department said Friday, urging Venezuela to cooperate with an international inquiry.

Venezuela must respond to evidence presented by Colombia and has an obligation to combat terrorism, State Department spokesman PJ Crowley said. FARC, or the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, is listed by the United States as a terrorist organization.

'There should be an investigation,' Crowley said. 'We think that Venezuela itself has responsibilities to be forthcoming in responding to the important information presented (Thursday) by Colombia.'

There has been tension along the border between Colombia, a close US ally, and Venezuela for years. Colombia made a presentation to the Organization of American States (OAS) in Washington on Thursday, including provided photos allegedly showing FARC camps in Venezuela.

Venezuela has denied allowing FARC to operate. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Thursday said his country will not cooperate with an investigation and announced the severing of all ties with Colombia.

Crowley criticized the moves taken by Chavez. 'That's unfortunate. It's an unfortunate response,' he said. 'It was a petulant response by Venezuela to cut off relations with Colombia.'

FARC has been waging a communist civil war in Colombia for decades and has been tied to drug trafficking. The United States has given billions of dollars in aid to Colombia to help it fight an increasingly weakened FARC.

Chavez, a leading hemispheric critic of the United States, said the allegations were created by Colombia and the United States with the intent of starting a war with his country.