Western Hemisphere
Vice-President Ramón Carrizález explained the government's position about the killing of two National Guard troops on Monday in state of Táchira, on the border with Colombia.

Carrizález stated that the two soldiers were killed by Colombian paramilitary militia seeking to gain a foothold in Venezuela.

"This forms part of a destabilization plan that we have been reporting for some time now. President Chávez and other top officials have been advised of this issue and it has been minimized by members of the sick opposition in our country."

Carrizález said that the murder is intended to intimidate the Bolivarian National Guard.

The official said that the Venezuelan government will strongly fight against the paramilitary militia. He added that the Venezuelan authorities have arrested one suspect allegedly involved in the crime and have identified three other people.