Venezuela’s ambassador to Colombia has said that FARC leader “Timochenko” is not in his country’s territory, despite a report to the contrary, reported W Radio Monday.
After a meeting with the Mayor of Bogota Gustavo Petro, Ivan Rincon said, “I reiterate what has already been said exhuastively, [Venezuelan] President Hugo Chavez will not allow any kind of guerrillas or subversives in our territory.”
The remark came in response to a claim made Sunday by Colombian daily El Colombiano that FARC supreme leader Rodrigo Londoño Echeverry, alias “Timochenko”, is in the Venezuelan border state of Zulia, moving around in an area of 10 square kilometers.
The claim was based upon the testimony of a demobilized guerrilla, alias “Daniel.” But Colombian Defense Minister Juan Carlos Pinzon has denied having reliable intelligence to this effect, saying “We do not speculate, and only talk about precise and concrete information, and on the day we have to we will tell the country.”
