Venezuela denies harbouring Colombian rebels

Senior ministers and military commanders in Venezuela have travelled to the border with Colombia following claims by the government in Bogota that left-wing rebels are operating from inside its territory.

Afterwards, the Venezuelan Foreign Minister, Luis Alfonso Davila, said there was no evidence to back allegations that guerrillas from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - the FARC - had been using Venezuela as a staging ground for attacks on the Colombian side of the border.

Colombia has repeatedly accused Venezuela of turning a blind eye to rebel activities.

But the government in Caracas says the Colombian army is failing to protect the border properly.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service