English Story

哥伦比亚释放其囚禁的委内瑞拉警卫队队员

Colombia has released four members of the Venezuelan national guard who were detained on Colombian territory.

哥伦比亚释放了在其国土上被扣押的四名委内瑞拉国民警卫队成员。

The men
The men's release would be a gesture of 'brotherly affection', Mr Uribe said

Colombia says they were stopped on Friday by its navy in a boat on a river in the border province of Vichada.

President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela ruled out dialogue with the Colombian government saying he would not accept outside mediation(调停,仲裁) in the dispute.

The only way to resolve the conflict with Colombia is for the US to withdraw from military bases there, he added.

Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe said the troops were being sent home as a message of the "unbreakable affection(慈爱,感情)" between the two countries.

"They should carry back the message that here there is brotherly affection for Venezuela and that affection is unbreakable," he said.

Earlier this month, President Chavez urged his armed forces to be prepared for possible war.

He said the increased US access to Colombian bases would allow Washington to spy on Venezuela and attack strategic targets.

Venezuela has accused the United States of planning attacks on its territory through a new military agreement with Colombia.

Bogota says the pact is aimed at fighting drug-traffickers(毒枭) and Marxist(马克思主义) rebels within Colombia's own borders.