Diplomats Closer To Ending Crisis In Latin America

The United States has said it has no intention of invading Venezuela and questioned Venezuela's reaction to the strike. "We do think it's curious that a country such as Venezuela would be raising the specter of military action against a country who was defending itself against terrorism," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said at a news conference. "I think that says a lot about Venezuela."

Colombia said it would not send troops to its border with Venezuela, and the United States said it saw no need to provide military support to Bogota.

"We think this is an absurd provocation and there's no need to respond in any way," said Juan Manuel Santos, Colombia's defense minister.

Still embroiled in a 44-year-long guerrilla war, Colombia's armed forces have grown from about 150,000 soldiers and support staff in 2000 to nearly 270,000 this year, making it the second-largest military in Latin America after Brazil's. The country has 265 helicopters and propeller-driven Brazilian-made fighter planes. A heavily armed police force has 140,000 troops.

Venezuela has a military force of 82,300, including 34,000 in the army. Citing concern over U.S. aims in the region and the Bush administration's refusal to sell Venezuela weapons and spare parts, Chávez has embarked on an arms buildup in recent years that has led to the acquisition of 24 Russian Sukhoi fighters, about three dozen helicopters and 100,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles.

"My personal view is that there's relatively little likelihood of military conflict," Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told reporters. Asked whether the Bush administration would provide support should hostilities take place, Gates said, "The Colombians can take care of themselves."

Venezuela's armed forces have been purged of officers who have not openly supported Chávez's so-called Bolivarian Revolution. The military's focus in recent years has been on carrying out social programs.

"Their state of readiness is much less," said Adam Isacson, who tracks military issues in Latin America for the Center for International Policy. "Their system of promoting officers and designating who's in charge of key units has been politicized."

Along Colombia's southern front, Ecuadoran troops were also taking up positions Wednesday. "The mobilization of troops is to make sure there are no new incursions and to control the access along our border," said Salvador, the foreign minister. "It is not a warlike position."

Ecuador's jungle border has been crossed periodically by guerrillas, paramilitary groups, drug traffickers and Colombian army patrols.

A senior Colombian official said in an interview that his government has frequently provided Ecuadoran officials with the location of FARC camps in Ecuador's jungle, including the camp where Devia, the rebel commander, was killed.

"Their response always was either, 'No, we don't accept your evidence,' or they simply didn't answer," the official said on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

Salvador said Ecuador's policy has been to repel guerrillas and other irregular groups, though the country has limited resources and receives no international assistance in that effort. She said Ecuador's security forces have prevented FARC incursions and dismantled dozens of camps and drug-producing labs.

"We've been permanently strengthening and acting on the northern frontier to control its porous nature," she said. "Ecuador's effort has been enormous."

Staff writer Karen DeYoung in Washington contributed to this report.