The Venezuelan government said on Friday that it has recalled Gustavo Márquez, its ambassador to Bogotá, for consultations, a day after the Colombian government said that it has evidence that several rebel leaders are hiding in Venezuela.

Venezuelan Foreign Nicolás Maduro said that Caracas sent a note of protest to the government of President Alvaro Uribe Vélez, in a new escalation in the tense diplomatic relations between the two South American neighboring countries, Reuters reported.

"We have recalled our Ambassador to Bogotá, Gustavo Márquez, for consultations in Caracas," said Maduro, as reported by AFP.

Venezuelan authorities want Márquez "to take part in assessing a series of moves" to be taken by the government of President Hugo Chávez "in the next few hours, specifically, political measures," said Maduro.

"We have acted accordingly and delivered (to Colombia) a note of protest issued by the Venezuelan government rejecting the lies, the 'false positive' scandals and the dirty war of the government of President Álvaro Uribe," Maduro added.

"On behalf of our motherland, we are rejecting and protesting against the political aggression launched on Thursday through a media operation by the Colombian government. This is a brutal assault on our country," Maduro said at a press conference.

With reporting by Alicia De La Rosa

Translated by Gerardo Cárdenas