Venezuela says U.S. trying to spread violence

Venezuela on Tuesday accused the United States of trying to spread violence in the Andean region after a U.S. official said left-wing Colombian rebels were hiding in Venezuelan territory. Colombia and the United States have long said Venezuela is not doing enough to combat Marxist FARC fighters waging Latin America's longest insurgency. The rebels are also deeply involved in drug trafficking. Deputy U.S. Secretary of State John Negroponte on Monday urged Venezuela to crack down on rebels hiding on its side of the border. Venezuela's left-wing government, which has voiced solidarity with the rebels' goals, called Negroponte's statement 'irresponsible and abusive.' 'There is a campaign under way and we want to denounce it,' Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro told reporters. 'The government of the United States is directly responsible for this campaign, which is intended to fill our region with violence.' Maduro, speaking at a meeting of the Organization of American States in Medellin, Colombia, said Venezuela has not offered sanctuary to rebels who have been fighting the Colombian state for four decades.