Stories related to: Venezuela

Chavez Bans Simpsons, Brings in Baywatch Babes

Times (UK)  |  Apr 9, 08 11:41 AM CDT

(Newser) - Hugo Chavez has bumped pudgy Homer Simpson from Venezuela's airwaves, reports the Times of London, opting instead for the decidedly more fit and furry David Hasselhoff. The dysfunctional Simpsons were deemed "inappropriate" for kiddies watching the morning TV lineup, but were replaced with the entirely, er, wholesome "Baywatch Hawaii." More »

Venezuela Tried to Arm FARC, Colombia Says

New York Times  |  Mar 30, 08 3:07 PM CDT

(Newser) - Colombian officials claim to have computer files captured from its FARC rebels that indicate Venezuela sold arms to the terrorist group, the New York Times reports. If Interpol verifies the files, they would also suggest links between FARC and Ecuador’s government and provide insight into the rebel organization. Colombia nabbed the computers in a raid in Ecuador earlier this month. More »

Rice Snubs Argentina in Trip South

New York Times  |  Mar 13, 08 2:19 PM CDT

(Newser) - Condoleezza Rice has embarked on a visit to Brazil and Chile, but the secretary of State won’t be stopping in neighboring Argentina, a sign of ever-frostier relations. “The United States is clearly snubbing Argentina,” one expert tells the New York Times . New Argentine president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner has worsened already-sour relations by strengthening ties with Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez. More »

Recovered Data Links Venezuela to FARC Rebels

Reuters  |  Mar 12, 08 8:50 PM CDT

(Newser) - Possible links between Hugo Chavez’ Venezuelan government and the Colombian FARC guerrilla group concern Washington, but US officials aren't yet saying the nation will be declared a state sponsor of terrorism, Reuters reports. Colombia said computers seized in a March 1 raid on a FARC base in Ecuador contain evidence that proves Venezuela is aiding the leftist group. More »

Venezuelan Diplomats to Return to Colombia

BBC  |  Mar 10, 08 5:35 AM CDT

(Newser) - Venezuela will return its diplomats to Colombia after last week’s border crisis was largely resolved at a regional summit. Ecuadorean diplomats say it will take longer for them to return, reports the BBC. Colombian forces killed an important rebel leader inside Ecuador last week, provoking a bristling regional standoff. More »

South American Crisis Ends With Handshakes

Reuters  |  Mar 7, 08 6:55 PM CST

(Newser) - The threat of war involving Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela was diffused today with a bevy of handshakes televised all over Latin America, Reuters reports. Colombian President Alvaro Uribe and his opposite number, Rafael Correa of Ecuador, reached an agreement on combating insurgents in the future; the Colombian military's killing of FARC rebels in Ecuador last weekend sparked the crisis. More »

Venezuela Adds Firepower on Colombian Border

Reuters  |  Mar 5, 08 2:28 PM CST

(Newser) - Venezuela deployed tanks to the Colombian border, Reuters reports, as Latin American tensions remained high enough that Hugo Chavez warned of an Andean war. Though Colombia refused to send reinforcements to its border, the mobilization of heavy artillery, including support from air and sea forces, is the first in the standoff following Colombia's weekend incursion into Ecuador to killFARC rebels. More »

Ecuador Wants Apology on FARC; US Backs Bogota

Reuters  |  Mar 5, 08 7:07 AM CST

(Newser) - Ecuador's president, Rafael Correa, is in Brazil today, pushing for an apology from Colombia for its incursion into Ecuador to attack FARC guerrillas Saturday. While most Latin American nations, including Brazil, have condemned the cross-border attack, the White House yesterday unequivocally backed Colombia in the rapidly escalating crisis. Correa heads later today to Caracas to meet with Hugo Chavez who, like Correa, has massed troops on the border with Colombia. More »

Colombia: FARC Was After Uranium

BBC  |  Mar 4, 08 11:35 AM CST

(Newser) - Colombia has accused Ecuador and Venezuela of cooperating with FARC guerrillas who were trying to buy uranium, the BBC reports, even as Ecuador cut ties with Colombia and Venezuela expelled its diplomats. “FARC is taking big steps in the world of terrorism to become a global aggressor,” said Colombia’s top cop, citing documents found during Saturday’s raid that detailed negotiations for 110 pounds of uranium. More »

Crisis Deepens as Colombia Links Ecuador to FARC

CNN  |  Mar 3, 08 9:45 AM CST

(Newser) - The tension in Latin America deepened last night as a Colombian general charged that Ecuador’s president had ties to a FARC leader killed by Colombian forces Saturday. Ecuador and Venezuela have both mobilized troops to their borders in response to the raid, which they claim took place on Ecuadorean territory. Colombia says its forces, attacking targets in Colombia, merely returned fire when FARC rebels shelled them from about a mile inside Ecuador. More »

Chavez Sends Troops to Colombian Border