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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Colombia did not fake Farc files | Colombia did not fake Farc files |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| International police agency Interpol says Colombian officials did not tamper with computers they allege are proof that Venezuela financed Farc rebels. | |
| The hard drives were purportedly seized after a raid on a rebel camp in Ecuador at the beginning of March. | |
| But Interpol head Ronald Noble said its role had not included analysing the information contained on the drives. | |
| Venezuela and Ecuador have both dismissed the accusations as a US-backed smear campaign. | Venezuela and Ecuador have both dismissed the accusations as a US-backed smear campaign. |
| They say that any contacts with the Revolutionary Armed Forced of Colombia (Farc) were solely made as part of a humanitarian effort to free hostages held by the left-wing guerrillas. | They say that any contacts with the Revolutionary Armed Forced of Colombia (Farc) were solely made as part of a humanitarian effort to free hostages held by the left-wing guerrillas. |
| Colombian forces attacked the Farc camp located just across the border in Ecuador on 1 March. | Colombian forces attacked the Farc camp located just across the border in Ecuador on 1 March. |
| Authenticity confirmed | |
| The computers they seized contain files which, according to Bogota, show that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez was personally involved in financing and supplying arms to the rebels. | The computers they seized contain files which, according to Bogota, show that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez was personally involved in financing and supplying arms to the rebels. |
| They also suggest that Ecuador maintained links with the Farc. | |
| The Colombian authorities asked Interpol to check the files after Mr Chavez accused them of faking the documents. | |
| Mr Noble said that deep forensic analysis showed Colombia did not modify, delete or create any files, although it did not always follow internationally accepted methods when handling the computers. | |
| But he was quick to stress that the fact that the files had not been tampered with did not prove that the information contained within them was totally accurate. | |
| Washington has confirmed it believes the files are genuine and that the implications for Venezuela, if it has supported the Farc, which is on the US and European lists of terrorist organisations, could be very serious. | |
| But the files use codes and aliases throughout and nowhere is Mr Chavez mentioned by name. | |
| Farc commander Raul Reyes was among 25 people killed in the attack. | |
| The raid provoked the worst regional tensions in recent years, with Ecuador breaking off diplomatic relations with Colombia. | The raid provoked the worst regional tensions in recent years, with Ecuador breaking off diplomatic relations with Colombia. |