Ecuador's president denies backing Colombian rebels [View All]

[Judi Lynn]

Source: International Herald Tribune/Associated Press

Ecuador's president denies backing Colombian rebels
The Associated Press
Monday, May 12, 2008

MADRID, Spain: The president of Ecuador on Monday denied Colombian allegations that his country supports leftist rebels fighting to overthrow the Colombian government.

President Rafael Correa said his government is committed to finding a peaceful solution to the decades-old war in neighboring Colombia.

Correa spoke at a news conference in Madrid at the start of a European tour that will also take him to Belgium and France.

Colombian forces raided a Colombian rebel camp inside Ecuador on March 1, killing a senior rebel leader and 24 others. Colombian officials say messages saved in a computer recovered after the raid show Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has tried to arm and finance the Colombian guerrilla group FARC. Colombia also has released documents suggesting ties between the FARC and Ecuador's leftist government.

Correa said Monday that Colombia is waging a campaign of slander by saying his country serves as a safe haven for the FARC.
"Colombia and the government of Colombia know they are lying," Correa said.



Read more: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/05/12/europe/EU-GEN-Spain-Ecuador.php

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Chavez, Morales, Correa. Uribe.