Western Hemisphere
The latest diplomatic impasse between Venezuela and Colombia "is not the business of the United States, said on Thursday the US Department of State, upon urging both countries to take a seat and talk.

"It is not really a matter of the United States," said Department of State Spokesman Ian Kelly about the decision of the government of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez to freeze diplomatic relations with Bogotá.

The renewed clashes came after Colombia claimed that the weapons seized from the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces had been purchased by Venezuela from a Swedish company, DPA reported.

"We would encourage the two governments to solve these differences by means of dialogue," added Kelly in his daily press conference.

The senior official refrained himself from delving into the topic despite the Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs alleged on Thursday that Colombia's remarks follow a "bellicose policy" intended to "justify the deployment of US bases" in its territory.