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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Venezuela state under martial law against smugglers | Venezuela state under martial law against smugglers |
| (10 days later) | |
| The Venezuelan president has declared a state of emergency in a border region near Colombia following an attack by smugglers in which three soldiers and a civilian were injured. | The Venezuelan president has declared a state of emergency in a border region near Colombia following an attack by smugglers in which three soldiers and a civilian were injured. |
| Nicolas Maduro said there would be 60 days of martial law in five municipalities in the state of Tachira. | Nicolas Maduro said there would be 60 days of martial law in five municipalities in the state of Tachira. |
| He also said the closure of the border, announced on Thursday, would be extended until further notice. | He also said the closure of the border, announced on Thursday, would be extended until further notice. |
| Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has criticised the move. | Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has criticised the move. |
| Mr Santos said ordinary people on both sides of the border, including children, would suffer the most. | Mr Santos said ordinary people on both sides of the border, including children, would suffer the most. |
| "If we co-operate, the only ones to lose are the criminals, but if the border is closed, there is no co-ordination and the only ones to gain are the criminals," said Mr Santos. | "If we co-operate, the only ones to lose are the criminals, but if the border is closed, there is no co-ordination and the only ones to gain are the criminals," said Mr Santos. |
| Petrol and food smugglers have increasingly clashed with Venezuelan officers. | Petrol and food smugglers have increasingly clashed with Venezuelan officers. |
| The BBC's Daniel Pardo in Venezuela reports that Mr Maduro said Colombian paramilitary groups regularly travel to Venezuela, generating chaos and shortages in order to destabilise the revolution. | The BBC's Daniel Pardo in Venezuela reports that Mr Maduro said Colombian paramilitary groups regularly travel to Venezuela, generating chaos and shortages in order to destabilise the revolution. |
| Mr Maduro said an extra 1,500 soldiers had arrived to reinforce the area. | Mr Maduro said an extra 1,500 soldiers had arrived to reinforce the area. |
| "This decree provides ample power to civil and military authorities to restore peace," he said in a broadcast on state television. | "This decree provides ample power to civil and military authorities to restore peace," he said in a broadcast on state television. |
| On Wednesday, three Venezuelan army officers and a civilian were injured in riots with smugglers. | |
| Venezuela closed its border with Colombia for the first time last year. | Venezuela closed its border with Colombia for the first time last year. |
| Tensions run high along the porous 2,200-kilometre (1,370-mile) border. | Tensions run high along the porous 2,200-kilometre (1,370-mile) border. |