WASHINGTON — Allegations that Venezuela is harboring leftist Colombian guerrillas in its territory should be taken "very seriously," a US State Department official told AFP on Friday.
Leftist President Hugo Chavez broke off relations after Colombia on Thursday after Bogota charged, in a presentation to the Organization of American States, that there are some 1,500 Colombian guerrillas in Venezuela in dozens of camps.
"Colombia's allegations need to be taken very seriously," the State Department said in response to a written query from AFP.
"Venezuela has an obligation to Colombia and to the international community to fully investigate this information and move to prevent the use of its sovereign territory by terrorist groups," the State Department wrote.
"It is the expectation of all members of the inter-American community that all countries fulfill that commitment," the statement read.
US State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said Thursday that Washington disapproved of Chavez's move.
"I don't think that severing ties or communication is the proper way to achieve that end," Crowley said.
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