March 2, 2008: Ecuador and Venezuela sent troops to their Colombian borders after Columbian troops crossed the border into Ecuador in an anti-FARC raid. The Columbian military killed Raul Reyes, second-in-command within FARC - Columbia's largest anti-government group. In response, Hugo Chavez sent troops to the Colombian border and closed the Venezuelan embassy in Bogota. Ecuador's Rafael Correa moved troops to its own border with Colombia and recalled the Ecuadorian ambassador from Bogota. Chavez and Uribe have been on bad terms since Uribe called a halt to Chavez's mediatory role in hostage negotiations with FARC in November 2007.
Andean Crisis News
- Topix.net: Ecuador, Columbia and Venezuela FARC Crisis
- Google News: Ecuador, Columbia and Venezuela FARC Crisis
- BBC News: Leaders say Colombia crisis over (March 7, 2008)
- BBC News: Second senior Farc rebel 'killed' (March 7, 2008)
- BBC News: Crisis Overshadows LatAm Summit (March 7, 2008)
- Forbes: Bankers: Andean Crisis Won't Hit Economy (March 6, 2008)
- Reuters: Colombia stocks sink on Chavez's takeover threat (March 6, 2008)
- Washington Post: Diplomats Closer To Ending Crisis In Latin America (March 6, 2008)
- Reuters: Spain Says Will Mediate in Andean Crisis (March 5, 2008)
- FOX News: Chavez Claims 'We Are Peace' as Troops Gather on Border With Colombia (March 5, 2008)
- CNN: Diplomats Confident South American Crisis will be Resolved (March 5, 2008)
- Christian Science Monitor: Colombia: Latin America Tries to Defuse Escalating Crisis (March 5, 2008)
WARNING: Pop-ups - Reuters: U.S. Officials, Candidates' Views on Andean Crisis (March 4, 2008)
- VOA News: US Urges Peaceful End to Colombia-Ecuador Dispute (March 4, 2008)
- Times Online: Hugo Chavez moves his tanks to border as regional war looms (March 3, 2008)
- Boston Globe: Chávez sends troops, tanks to Venezuela's border with Colombia (March 2, 2008)
- This article supplies a quote from Hugo Chavez, speaking on his Aló Presidente television show: "Move 10 battalions to the Colombian frontier immediately, tank battalions, military aviation...We are not going to permit the North American empire, which is the ruler, to allow his lapdog, President Uribe and the Colombian oligarchy, to divide or weaken us. We will not permit it."
Andean Crisis - Background
References
Fast Facts
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Fact:
Leaders plan to meet at the The Rio Group summit on March 7, 2008 to discuss the crisis
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Fact:
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Chavez
"We don't want a war, but we are not going to allow them to violate our territorial sovereignty"
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Fact:
FARC base was 1 mile into Ecuador territory
