Venezuela denied reports Thursday alleging that a government-owned airplane had carried Colombian rebel leaders to Nicaragua for a Sandinista celebration.
Venezuelan Vice President Ramon Carrizalez called the report, published Wednesday in Managua's La Prensa newspaper, a "completely false" attempt to discredit President Hugo Chavez.
La Prensa, citing unnamed Nicaraguan officials, said six leaders of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia flew to Managua on July 17 aboard a small Cessna owned by Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA, to attend the 29th anniversary celebration of Nicaragua's Sandinista revolution.
Colombian officials said they could not corroborate the report.
Camilo Ospina, Colombia's ambassador to the Organization of American States, accused Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega on Thursday of giving FARC guerrillas "direct support." He did not elaborate, but said Colombia has the right to seek international sanctions against Nicaragua for supporting terrorism.
Nicaragua provided refuge to three female survivors of a March 1 Colombian military raid into Ecuador that killed Raul Reyes, a top FARC leader, and 24 others. Nicaragua called the attack an "act of state terrorism."
Ortega, who has publicly praised the FARC, offered last week to meet with rebel leaders to negotiate the release of hostages held for years in jungle camps — a proposal Colombia's government quickly rejected.
Venezuela Denies Flying Colombian Guerrillas To Nicaragua For Sandinista Celebration
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