The Minister has confirmed that raids have been made on houses and arrests secured as the government attempts to untangle infiltration and conspiracy aimed at destabilizing Venezuela's political system.

Arias Cardenas has described the situation as serious since he said it involved not yet destabilization plans but also espionage. "It's a question of actions that have been happening repeatedly on Venezuelan territory by persons belonging to the Administrative Security Department (DAS) ... we have documents in hand and are sharing information with the Interior & Justice (MIJ) Ministry."

Yesterday morning, the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry sent a protest note to its Colombian counterpart calling for an immediate cessation of espionage and destabilization activities in Venezuela.

The MIJ is expected to make a formal statement within the next few hours. Arias Cardenas has made it clear that the espionage charges have nothing to do with those kidnapped and assassinated on the Venezuelan side of the common border in Tachira State last Saturday.

In the latest news on the football murders, the only survivor, a Colombian citizen has stated his intention to return home forthwith. The Venezuelan Foreign Ministry had expressed its condolences to the families of those murdered and said it is still investigating the circumstances behind the assassinations.

• According to (Colombia) North Santander Department ombudswoman, Carmen Ligia Galvez, the youngster called Manuel Junior Cortes is out of danger recovering from a bullet wound in the neck and is still at the Venezuelan military hospital in Caracas.

Investigations have been opened into another alleged massacre that took place in August in which five Colombians and one Venezuelan were apparently strangled to death in Tachira State.

Patrick J. O'Donoghue
news.editor@vheadline.com