Free Republic

CARACAS, Venezuela - U.S. missionaries accused by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez of espionage have been forced from their remote outposts among jungle tribes by a government order, the final pair leaving Thursday after years of evangelical work. The New Tribes Mission flew those two out of the rain forest to regroup with other missionaries in the eastern city of Puerto Ordaz. There they will decide what to do next: leave the country or continue with a legal battle seeking to overturn the government's order to expel them from indigenous areas by Sunday. Most of the group's missionaries are Americans. Since...

Chavez kicks out US evangelists for 'spying' By Patrick Markey 1 hour, 1 minute ago CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Wednesday ordered U.S. New Tribes evangelical missions working with indigenous groups to leave the country after accusing them of "imperialist infiltration" and spying. Chavez, an ex-soldier who says his socialist revolution counters U.S. influence, briefly suspended foreign missionary permits in August after U.S. evangelist preacher Pat Robertson called on Washington to assassinate the left-wing leader. "I have given the order, the New Tribes, the so-called New Tribes, are going to leave Venezuela. This is real imperialist...

(Philippines) -- Our newscast begins today in the Philippines, where U.S. planes have reportedly tracked down hostages that include an American missionary couple. Filipino media reports indicate Martin and Gracia Burnham may have been separated in the latest bid by the Abu Sayyaf to thwart government rescue operations. We spoke to New Tribes Mission's contingency spokesman, Guy Sier. While he declined to go on tape, he stated that their local sources have information contradicting the area's media information. A key issue, Sier points out, is that they haven't been able to verify the reports or locate the sources behind the...