The intention of Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero was asking President Hugo Chávez for "information" rather than an explanation about his alleged support to an alliance between the Basque separatist group ETA and the rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, said on Thursday Spain's Minister of Foreign Affairs Miguel Ángel Moratinos.

Moratinos's clarification came after the reaction of the Venezuelan president on Wednesday. Chávez said that he had "nothing" to explain to Zapatero in connection with an investigation initiated by Eloy Velasco, a judge of the Spanish National Court, into the alleged cooperation of the Venezuelan government with a presumed alliance between ETA and the FARC, Efe reported.

Moratinos said that he is confident that Chávez will collaborate with the Spanish National Court in order to clarify the evidence on his alleged links with both foreign groups.