Chavez threatens to cut ties with Colombia

Caracas: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez threatened to break ties with Colombia after Bogota accused him of tolerating the presence of leftist rebels.

The comments escalated tension between the ideologically opposed neighbours.

Colombia said on Thursday it had proof that members of Colombian guerrilla groups such as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia were hiding in the jungle on Venezuela's side of the border.

Relations between the socialist Chavez and the conservative government of Colombia have deteriorated in the past two years because of spillover from Colombia's decades-long civil conflict and accusations that Chavez has helped the leftist rebels.

Two years ago, a Colombian raid on a Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia camp in Ecuador led to troop movements by Caracas, raising the spectre of war in the Andean region. Tensions flared again last year.

Citing personal safety, Chavez said he will not attend the August 7 inauguration of Colombia's newly elected president Juan Manuel Santos.