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Video stokes Ecuador-Colombia row Ecuador leader denies Farc funds
(about 13 hours later)
A videotape that appears to link Colombia's Marxist rebels the Farc to the president of neighbouring Ecuador has been broadcast on Colombian TV. President Rafael Correa of Ecuador has denied allegations that he received election funds from Marxist Farc rebels in neighbouring Colombia.
The video allegedly shows a rebel commander claiming they helped fund the 2006 election of Ecuador's left-wing president, Rafael Correa. He said evidence had been fabricated to destabilise his left-wing government.
Ecuador's government has strongly denied having any ties with the Farc. A video broadcast on Colombian television on Friday appeared to show a Farc leader saying he had contributed to Mr Correa's 2006 campaign.
The two countries severed relations last year after Colombian troops raided a rebel base across the border. The two countries broke off diplomatic ties last year after Colombian troops raided a rebel base in Ecuador.
Correspondents say the videotape will further damage already dire diplomatic relations between the Andean neighbours. The hour-long video was delivered to the offices of the Associated Press news agency by an unnamed Colombian government official and was later broadcast on national television.
Computer seized
The hour-long video of Farc leader Jorge Briceno, also known as Mono Jojoy, addressing his fighters was delivered to the offices of the Associated Press news agency by an unnamed Colombian government official and was later broadcast on national television.
AP said it was found on a computer seized in May in the Bogota home of a suspected Farc operative, and was decrypted last week.AP said it was found on a computer seized in May in the Bogota home of a suspected Farc operative, and was decrypted last week.
It allegedly shows Jorge Briceno addressing his troops after the death last March of the Farc's founder Manuel Marulanda.It allegedly shows Jorge Briceno addressing his troops after the death last March of the Farc's founder Manuel Marulanda.
Briceno speaks of money delivered to the 2006 election campaign of Ecuador's President Rafael Correa as well as meetings with his emissaries. Mr Briceno speaks of money delivered to the 2006 election campaign of Ecuador's President Rafael Correa as well as meetings with his emissaries.
The BBC's Jeremy McDermott, in Colombia, says this is not the first time such assistance has been mentioned. 'Destabilisation'
On computers seized from the Farc camp in Colombia's cross-border raid last year were references to payments to Mr Correa's campaign and meetings with people close to him. On Saturday, Mr Correa dismissed the video as a "sham".
Mr Correa has always denied any links to the Farc and the Ecuadorean government says Colombia has a long history of falsifying evidence. "I personally don't know anyone in the Farc," he said.
Analysts add that even if the videotape is genuine, it does not prove that Mr Correa personally had any knowledge of contacts with the rebels. The Ecuadorean president added that the release was part of a campaign by conservative groups "to destabilise the region's progressive governments".
Analysts say that even if the videotape is genuine, it does not prove that Mr Correa personally had any knowledge of contacts with the rebels.
Relations between the two nations have worsened recently with an Ecuadorean court seeking the arrest of the former Colombian defence minister who had ordered the raid into Ecuador.Relations between the two nations have worsened recently with an Ecuadorean court seeking the arrest of the former Colombian defence minister who had ordered the raid into Ecuador.
Ecuador is also placing tariffs on Colombian exports. Ecuador is also imposing tariffs on Colombian exports.
Our correspondent says the new video will make the chances of re-establishing diplomatic relations between Bogota and Quito a very distant prospect.