Venezuela threatens oil cut to US
President Chavez says he will cut supplies if attacked by US-allied Colombia.
‘Bogus show’
Uribe had said that top commanders of the rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or Farc, have taken refuge in Venezuela and were launching attacks against Colombian troops.
The Colombian government had presented photos, videos and maps of what it said were Colombian rebel camps inside Venezuela to the Organisation of American States.
Chavez has dismissed the accusations as a bogus show intended to smear his government and has said that Uribe could be trying to lay the groundwork for an armed conflict with Venezuela.
The Colombian government denies seeking a conflict and says it went to OAS with its evidence about the rebels last week because Chavez’s government had not taken steps to address the situation.
The United States threw its support behind its key ally Colombia, calling Chavez’s decision to sever diplomatic relations and put border troops on alert “a petulant response” to Bogota’s accusations.