Colombia hopes to sign US military pact soon

September 8th, 2009 UK: Global deal on climate change may not happenLONDON — Britain's Foreign Secretary says there is danger a United Nations conference in December won't strike a global deal on climate change. David Miliband said Tuesday the complexity of negotiations and disputes between industrialized and developing nations leave prospects for a deal "in the balance." He said they threaten to sink a new global pact which would replace the 1997 Kyoto Protocol on reducing greenhouse gas emissions at the conference in Copenhagen.

September 7th, 2009 BRASILIA - Brazil and France have signed a major arms pact worth billions of dollars that includes transfer of key military technologies, building of submarines and purchase of helicopters. The agreement was sealed after a meeting between French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva here Monday.

August 14th, 2009 US defends plan to use Colombian military basesCARACAS, Venezuela — U.S. military officials on Thursday defended a proposed agreement to use seven Colombia bases, saying the deal would not change U.S.

July 30th, 2009 Venezuela: Colombia trying to justify interventionCARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez's government on Thursday accused Colombian authorities of trying to justify an intervention in Venezuela with its allegations that anti-tank weapons found in a rebel arms cache originated here. The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it will respond firmly to "every aggression from the Colombian government with very firm measures," as tensions between the neighboring nations rise over the allegations.

July 26th, 2009 CARACAS - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has severely criticised a proposed Colombian deal that would allow the US access to military bases. The US will use Colombia as a base to threaten other countries in the region, Chavez said in a speech to the Venezuelan parliament.

July 25th, 2009 CARACAS - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has pledged that his government will strengthen the nation's military might, while alleging that the US is trying to turn Colombia into an "Israel" in the neighbourhood. "What is important is to continue strengthening the republic's military power," Chavez said at an official ceremony broadcast live on all radio and television stations Friday.

July 24th, 2009 Venezuela upset by pending US-Colombia pactCARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez says Colombia should not underestimate Venezuela's concerns over the neighboring country's decision to forge stronger military ties with the United States. From Venezuela's point of view, Chavez said Thursday, it's like "opening your house for your neighbor's enemy." Colombian officials have said Venezuela should not be concerned by a pact being negotiated to let U.S.

July 21st, 2009 Chavez objects to Colombia's base deal with USCARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is objecting to Colombia's decision to let the United States increase its military presence in the neighboring country. Chavez said Tuesday that Colombia's plan to accommodate more U.S.

July 18th, 2009 BOGOTA - Thirteen leftist rebels were killed in fighting with the security forces in central Colombia, a media report said. The fighting between Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the country's largest rebel group, and the security forces took place in the central Meta province Friday.

July 17th, 2009 QUITO/BOGOTA - The US military has begun to dismantle its anti-drug-and-terrorism operations and its base in Manta, Ecuador, as its aircraft flew their last missions on Friday, the US embassy said. The equipment and planes appear headed to Colombia, which is negotiating with the US to take them in after Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa refused to extend the contract that ends in September.

June 29th, 2009 Obama expresses optimism about Colombia free tradeWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama said Monday he is confident the U.S. and Colombia can ultimately reach a deal on a stalled trade agreement, despite continuing concern about the killings of labor leaders in Colombia.

March 1st, 2009 BOGOTA - The latest fighting between Colombian military forces and guerillas from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) left 11 people dead, authorities said Saturday. The death toll comprised 10 alleged members of FARC, a Marxist group that has been waging a civil war for 45 years, and one government soldier, the military said in a statement.

February 22nd, 2009 BOGOTA - Colombia has dismissed the report that the country's rebel guerrilla group chief is dying of serious illness in southern forests, EFE reported Saturday. US newspaper El Nuevo Herald reported Friday that Jorge Briceno Suarez, the military head of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), is waiting his death in a clandestine camp in the Colombian jungles due to lack of treatment for chronic diabetes.

January 27th, 2009 BOGOTA - A former guerrilla of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) has revealed that at least 300 kidnapped people were killed by the group in the jungles of Colombia. The former rebel gave the information to a local radio programme 'The Voices of the Kidnapping', which works for the liberation of hostages in Colombia.

December 26th, 2008 BOGOTA - Five people including a former rebel have been shot dead in northwesten Colombia, local media reported Friday quoting police. The people were killed on Christmas day as they were driving to their country house in Arauca province.