Venezuelan troops battle Colombian guerillas on border

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela´s Electronic News Posted: Monday, March 31, 2003 By: Robert Rudnicki

Venezuelan troops have been involved in a fierce gun battle with Colombian guerillas near the border between the two countries and after 90 minutes the guerillas are believed to have escaped back into Colombia.

According to President Hugo Chavez Frias, he ordered the army to bomb the areas surrounding the guerilla camps as a warning to them, but instructed soldiers not to target the bases themselves.

This order, the President said was to establish a buffer zone near the border to prevent any future invasions of Venezuelan territory.

This is the latest in a series of recent Venezuelan army confrontations with Colombian rebels following months of criticism from Colombian officials who accuse President Chavez Frias of failing to take action against the guerillas.