Prison for Colombian 'plotters'

The alleged paramilitaries were shown on TV after their arrest

A court in Venezuela has sentenced 27 Colombian nationals to six years in prison on the charge of military rebellion.

They had been accused of being paramilitaries plotting to overthrow President Hugo Chavez.

Three Venezuelan military officers were also sentenced to jail for their involvement in the suspected plot.

Over 100 alleged Colombian paramilitaries were arrested at a farm near Caracas last year.

The three officers were detained later. The government said they were using the farm to train the men.

Mr Chavez believed the Colombians were sent to try to undermine his government.

However, 73 of them were cleared by the Venezuelan court and will be deported.

Defence lawyers said the Colombians were nothing more than poor farm workers who were lured to Venezuela with promises of work, but once they arrived they were forced to join the anti-Chavez plot.

At the time of the arrests, the Venezuelan president denounced what he called a plot to overthrow him directed from within the US and Colombia.

He said groups of the Venezuelan opposition were also involved.

But Washington and Bogota rejected the accusations, as well as the opposition in Venezuela.

However, Mr Chavez has insisted that the US has plans to invade his country - claims that Washington has repeatedly denied.