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Ecuador cuts ties with Colombia Neighbours cut ties with Colombia
(about 3 hours later)
Ecuador has cut diplomatic ties with Colombia in a deepening crisis over a cross-border raid by Colombian troops.Ecuador has cut diplomatic ties with Colombia in a deepening crisis over a cross-border raid by Colombian troops.
Venezuela also said it was expelling all Colombian diplomats in the wake of the raid, which killed senior Farc rebel Raul Reyes and 16 others.Venezuela also said it was expelling all Colombian diplomats in the wake of the raid, which killed senior Farc rebel Raul Reyes and 16 others.
Ecuador and Venezuela have deployed troops to their borders amid calls for restraint led by the head of the UN. Venezuela and Ecuador have deployed troops to their borders amid calls for restraint led by the head of the UN.
Bogota has accused both states of having ties with the Farc and says the rebels have tried to buy uranium. Ecuador said the raid had scuppered a possible deal to free French-Colombian Farc hostage Ingrid Betancourt.
Colombian national police chief Oscar Naranjo said his information had come from documents found during Saturday's raid on the rebel camp in Ecuador. President Rafael Correa said his government had been in "very advanced" talks to release the ex-Colombian presidential candidate, who has been held for six years, and other hostages.
They said we had a pact with terrorists, and that is completely false - we are dealing with an extremely cynical government Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa Latin American powers including Chile, Mexico and Brazil have offered to mediate in the dispute. An emergency meeting of the Organisation of American States will be held on Tuesday to discuss the crisis.
Ecuador, which had already withdrawn its ambassador from Bogota and expelled Colombia's from Quito, announced on Monday that it was now severing all diplomatic ties. Farc - the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - has been fighting for more than four decades with the declared aim of a fairer wealth distribution in Colombia.
"The government of Ecuador has decided to break off diplomatic relations with the government of Colombia starting today," a ministry statement said. They fund themselves largely through the cocaine trade, analysts say, while holding hundreds of kidnapped hostages for ransom and political ends.
A spokesman said trade ties would not be affected. We are accustomed to the lies of the Colombian government - whatever they say has no importance Venezuelan Vice-President Ramon Carrizalez
Shortly afterwards, Venezuela announced that the Colombian ambassador and all other diplomats were being thrown out. Ecuador, which had already withdrawn its ambassador from Bogota and expelled Colombia's from Quito, announced on Monday it would sever all diplomatic ties over the cross-border raid.
Ecuador has been flying troops by helicopter towards the border area, while Venezuela's President Chavez said he was deploying tanks and troops on Venezuela's own border with Colombia. Shortly afterwards, Venezuela announced the Colombian ambassador and all other diplomats were being thrown out.
As the crisis deepened, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon added his voice to those calling for restraint. Ecuador has been flying troops by helicopter towards the border area, while Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez said he was deploying tanks and troops on Venezuela's border with Colombia.
"The secretary general is concerned about the increased tensions and heightened rhetoric emerging over the weekend involving Colombia and its neighbours, Ecuador and Venezuela," a UN statement said.
In Washington, a state department spokesman, backing Colombia's right to defend itself, urged dialogue.
Brazil and other regional powers have also urged calm and offered - along with Spain - to mediate in the dispute.
Colombian allegationsColombian allegations
Gen Naranjo's allegations of Farc ties with Ecuador, Venezuela and uranium were made at a news conference in Bogota. As the crisis deepened, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon added his voice, expressing concern about "increased tensions and heightened rhetoric" in the region.
In Washington, a state department spokesman backed Colombia's right to defend itself while urging dialogue.
Reyes was Farc's first secretariat member to be killed in combat Farc 'invincibility' shatteredAnalysis: War talkTies hit all-time lowReyes was Farc's first secretariat member to be killed in combat Farc 'invincibility' shatteredAnalysis: War talkTies hit all-time low
"When they mention negotiations for 50 kilos of uranium, this means that the Farc are taking big steps in the world of terrorism to become a global aggressor. We're not talking of domestic guerrilla but transnational terrorism," said Gen Naranjo. Meanwhile, Colombia accused Ecuador and Venezuela of having ties with the Farc and said the rebels had tried to buy uranium.
The Colombian authorities said the information had come from documents found during Saturday's raid on the rebel camp in Ecuador.
"When they mention negotiations for 50 kilos of uranium, this means that the Farc are taking big steps in the world of terrorism to become a global aggressor. We're not talking of domestic guerrilla but transnational terrorism," said Colombian national police chief Oscar Naranjo at a news conference in Bogota.
Other documents showed that President Chavez had provided $300m (£151m) to the Farc, and had received funds from them many years earlier, he said.Other documents showed that President Chavez had provided $300m (£151m) to the Farc, and had received funds from them many years earlier, he said.
And there was also evidence of links between the Farc and representatives of the Ecuadorean government, Gen Naranjo said. And there was also evidence of links between the Farc and representatives of the Ecuadorean government, Gen Naranjo claimed.
"This unmasks the relations of the Farc with a series of governments, with a series of personalities, some public, some more sinister," Gen Naranjo said. But Venezuela and Ecuador poured scorn on the Colombian claims.
In the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, senior figures poured scorn on the claims that Mr Chavez had financed the rebels.
HAVE YOUR SAY Colombia and President Uribe have been fighting a civil war for 40 years, and it's pretty bad. Mr Uribe is trying very hard but these fallouts with other nations are dangerously ignorant and harmful to the region. Alex Dominguez, Milwaukee Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY Colombia and President Uribe have been fighting a civil war for 40 years, and it's pretty bad. Mr Uribe is trying very hard but these fallouts with other nations are dangerously ignorant and harmful to the region. Alex Dominguez, Milwaukee Send us your comments
"We are accustomed to the lies of the Colombian government," said Vice-President Ramon Carrizalez. "Whatever they say has no importance. Venezuelan Vice-President Ramon Carrizalez said: "We are accustomed to the lies of the Colombian government. Whatever they say has no importance."
"They can invent anything now to try to get out of that violation of Ecuadorean territory that they committed." Ecuador's President Correa also criticised Colombia, saying: "They said we had a pact with terrorists, and that is completely false."
Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa angrily denied the suggestion that his administration had links with the rebels.
"They said we had a pact with terrorists, and that is completely false," he said during a cabinet meeting.
"We are dealing with an extremely cynical government."
Colombia's foreign minister earlier said he regretted that troops had to cross the border, but said it had been necessary "in the fight against terrorism".Colombia's foreign minister earlier said he regretted that troops had to cross the border, but said it had been necessary "in the fight against terrorism".
"The Colombian government has never wanted to disrespect or violate the sovereignty or integrity of the sister republic of Ecuador," Fernando Araujo said."The Colombian government has never wanted to disrespect or violate the sovereignty or integrity of the sister republic of Ecuador," Fernando Araujo said.
Hostage fears Meanwhile, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said the death of rebel leader Reyes was "bad news", as he had been France's contact in its efforts to free Ms Betancourt.
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner meanwhile said the death of Reyes was "bad news", as he had been France's contact in its efforts to free French-Colombian Farc hostage Ingrid Betancourt. Venezuelan President Chavez's government also said he had been close on several occasions to a deal to free Ms Betancourt, who is said to be in very poor health.
Venezuela and Ecuador are both building up troops on their borders Six Farc hostages have been released since Mr Chavez began efforts to win their freedom.
"It is bad news that the man we were talking to, with whom we had contacts, has been killed," Mr Kouchner said on France Inter radio.
Ms Betancourt, a former Colombian presidential candidate, has been held for six years and is said to be in very poor health.
Six hostages have been released since Mr Chavez began efforts to win their freedom.
Colombia initially invited him to mediate, but later tried to exclude him from the process.Colombia initially invited him to mediate, but later tried to exclude him from the process.