Experts back Chavez link to rebels

Interpol says documents that show Venezuela is backing Colombian guerrillas are genuine.

The files, seized in a Colombia military raid on Marxist rebel camp in Ecuador, show President Hugo Chavez's leftist regime supports the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or Farc, according to Bogota.

Colombia asked Interpol to carry out forensic tests to guarentee it had not tampered with the material, found on three laptop computers and other hardware in the rebel camp.

Ronald Noble, the head of the international police agency, said: "Interpol concludes there was no tampering with any data."

He added: "Our only motive was to find out whether there was any tampering."

Colombian and US officials, who call the rebels terrorists, say the documents show Venezuelan officials supplying weapons to Farc.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said: "There are serious allegations about Venezuela supplying arms and support to a terrorist organization."

Venezuela and its ally Ecuador have dismissed the accusations as false and part of a US-backed campaign to discredit their governments.

They say any contacts with rebels were only part of a humanitarian effort to free hostages.

Mr Chavez said: "The government of Colombia is capable of provoking a war with Venezuela to justify the intervention of the United States.".

The computer evidence has generated talk in the US Congress about sanctions against Chavez - but the situation is complicated by the fact that Venezuela is a key supplier of oil to the US.

© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.

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