US commander admits to no Venezuela-rebel ties

A top US military commander in Latin America has confirmed Venezuelan government’s insistence on not aiding regional rebel groups, rejecting Spain’s accusations against the Hugo Chavez Administration.

“We have not seen any connection specifically that I can verify that there has been a direct government-to-terrorist connection,” said General Douglas Fraser, chief of US military’s Southern Command, responsible for Latin American operations, on Thursday.

“We have continued to watch very closely for any connections between illicit and terrorist organization activity within the region,” Fraser claimed.

President Chavez and other Latin American leaders have spoken harshly of the continuation of large US military presence in the region, arguing that such presence reflects US intention to intervene in the internal affairs of Latin American countries, as it has done so for decades.

Fraser’s comments follow accusations by a Spanish judge linking alleged assassination plots in Spain by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the Basque separatist group ETA to Venezuela.

Caracas has vehemently rejected the charges, exasperating already tense relations with Spain.