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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| 'Colombia-US base accord reached' | 'Colombia-US base accord reached' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Colombia says it has completed talks with Washington on allowing US troops to use seven of its military bases. | Colombia says it has completed talks with Washington on allowing US troops to use seven of its military bases. |
| Under the deal, the US military will be able to operate on Colombian soil to tackle drug-trafficking and terrorism. | Under the deal, the US military will be able to operate on Colombian soil to tackle drug-trafficking and terrorism. |
| A number of South American countries have condemned the plan and Argentina has said the bases are "not helpful". | A number of South American countries have condemned the plan and Argentina has said the bases are "not helpful". |
| Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has expressed fears the move would amount to preparation for an invasion of his country by US forces. | Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has expressed fears the move would amount to preparation for an invasion of his country by US forces. |
| Colombia's foreign ministry said that Bogota had agreed the text of the deal with the US. | Colombia's foreign ministry said that Bogota had agreed the text of the deal with the US. |
| "This agreement reaffirms the commitment of both parties in the fight against drug-trafficking and terrorism," the ministry said in a statement. | |
| The deal will now be reviewed in both countries before being signed. | |
| 'Climate of unease' | |
| Last week, Colombian President Alvaro Uribe visited several of his South American neighbours to try to calm fears over the proposed deal with Washington. | |
| On Monday, South American leaders at a regional summit had reiterated concerns over the deal. | |
| Mr Chavez warned that "the winds of war were beginning to blow" across the region. | |
| The Brazilian president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, called for a meeting between US President Barack Obama and the region's leaders, saying the "climate of unease disturbs me". | |
| Washington wants to use Colombia as a regional hub for operations to counter drug-trafficking and terrorism. | |
| The US has been forced to look for a new base for such operations after Ecuador refused to renew the lease on its Manta base, which the US military was using. |