Venezuela has officially complained to Colombia about its spying activities on Venezuelan territory. No details of the alleged espionage have been released.

The move will worsen still further the already poor relations between the two countries. Venezuela and Colombia are regularly embroiled in disputes about cross-border drugs trafficking and the activities of the Colombian FARC rebel movement.

Earlier this year, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez suspended relations with Colombia after the government in Bogotá agreed to allow United States troops to use its military bases. Mr Chávez fears the US might use the bases to launch an attack on Venezuela. His Colombian counterpart, Álvaro Uribe, argues the US troops are only in Colombia to help combat the FARC rebels and drugs traffickers.

photo: Álvaro Uribe ( flickr / Center for American Progress)