Perils face US rescue in Colombia ***But the rescue of the priests is the exception to the rule in the kidnapping capital of the world. In 2001, there were 3,041 kidnap victims in Colombia, only 23 percent of whom were rescued. The FARC has announced that it wants to trade the Americans, along with about 40 Colombian police and soldiers and 20 high-profile Colombian politicians, for guerrilla prisoners in Colombian jails. But the US has said it will not negotiate and both governments have vowed the rescue efforts will continue.***
U.S. ambassador in Venezuela voices concern about terrorist groups in Latin America *** CARACAS, Venezuela - The United States is concerned that international terrorist groups have established bases in Venezuela and other Latin American countries, the U.S. ambassador said Friday. "We are worried about the existence of terrorist groups not only in Venezuela but in all Latin American countries," Charles Shapiro told reporters after meeting with Venezuelan Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel.
Shapiro was responding to questions about statements made by Gen. James Hill, commander of the U.S. Southern Command. Hill told a military conference in Miami on Tuesday that organizations such as militant Lebanese group Hezbollah were operating in the tri-border area of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay and Venezuela's Margarita Island, the Financial Times reported Wednesday.
Hill said the groups were taking advantage of smuggling hotspots and weak institutions in those areas to channel funds to international terrorist groups. "I don't want to accuse anybody but we are on alert," Shapiro said. "We are ready to collaborate with the Venezuelan government to seek out terrorism that may exist in this country." ***