Venezuela has ordered Colombian diplomats to leave the country within 72 hours. The Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez had earlier announced he was breaking off relations over accusations that his government was harboring left-wing Colombian rebels. At a meeting of the Organization of American States in Washington, Colombia presented videos, maps and photos to prove that Farc and ELN rebels have bases in Venezuela. Mr Chávez blamed Colombian President Alvaro Uribe who’s leaving office next month for thedeterioration of relations.

“I blame President Uribe who's sick with hatred, because he's going into thedustbin of history, he’s going straight there, a pawn of the Yankee empire. He ended up isolated in the continent, he didn't defeat the guerrillas or the drug traffickers, and Venezuela is a victim of all this.”