USA accuses Venezuela of sending out mixed signals on terrorism 

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Thursday, May 01, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

A US State Department report on Global Terrorism Patterns in 2002 has criticized Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Frias for sending out mixed signals on the issue, singling out his now famous reaction to the US invasion of Afghanistan as a prime example.

Critics say the USA itself has been sending out mixed signals, praising the Venezuelan government's efforts to stem terrorism one minute and hitting out at the President for alleged links with terrorists groups the next.

The State Department report says Venezuela is signatory to 4 of 12 international conventions and protocols on terrorism and its laws do not back a thorough and efficient investigation into terrorist financial organs or activities. 

Last year the USA assisted Venezuela in assessing its vulnerabilities in the field and proposed appropriate political remedies but the plan was put on a backburner because of political and economic unrest towards the end of the year.  

Highlighting the "persistence of unconfirmed rumors," the USA suggests that the Venezuela government "apparently"  is passing arms and other backup material to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), which the USA now considers a terrorist group.