S American leaders meet amid crisis
Colombian, Venezuelan and Ecuadorian leaders to meet face-to-face over row.
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Felipe Calderon, Mexico’s president, said he hopes that “we can have a dialogue in a sensible way to find a peaceful solution” at the summit, but added that he doubted one would be found quickly.
Correa, who visited six countries to lobby against Uribe in a week full of vehement rhetoric on both sides, said Colombia must pledge not to violate its neighbours’ territory any more and cease accusations they are supporting the Farc.
Uribe, who is popular at home for military victories against the Farc, did not talk about the crisis to reporters on arrival in Santo Domingo, the Dominican capital.
But Uribe says he has already apologised and Colombia demands more co-operation from its neighbours in fighting the Farc, who have killed and kidnapped thousands of people in a four-decade conflict.
The Colombian president also refused to rule out future military incursions into Ecuador or Venezuela, saying he first needs assurances from Correa and Chavez that they are not harbouring rebels.
Farc capture
Ecuador made a sign it would move in that direction when, on the eve of the summit, it announced it had captured five Colombian rebels in an Amazonian region near its shared border with Colombia.
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“In an operation by the armed forces, five presumed guerrillas were found. Farc guerrillas,” Gustavo Larrea, the security minister, said.
Chavez has led the region in general condemnation of Colombia’s violation of Ecuador’s sovereignty and he says the United States is militarising Colombia in order to attack Venezuela.
Nicaragua joined Venezuela and Ecuador on Thursday in cutting off diplomatic relations with Colombia.
The US has backed Colombia, its closest South American ally and recipient of billions of dollars in US aid for fighting rebels and the cocaine trade.