国际英语新闻：Venezuela breaks off diplomatic ties with Colombia

CARACAS, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez announced Thursday that his country breaks off the diplomatic relations with Colombia.

"For dignity we do not have other option but to sever diplomatic ties with Colombia," Chavez said after Colombia presented to the Organization of American States (OAS) the accusations about the alleged presence of Colombian guerrilla chiefs in Venezuelan territory.

At the moment of the announcement, Chavez had a meeting with Argentine soccer coach and former player Diego Maradona, at the Miraflores Palace, headquarters of the Venezuelan government.

With this measure, it was fulfilled the announcement made by Chavez on July 16 about severing ties with Colombia.

Chavez regretted the measure due to the historical ties between the two countries, as they share a border line of 2,120 kilometers.

"We will be on alert, I have ordered maximum alert in our border," Chavez said. He added that Colombia is obeying the United States and warned about the risk that Colombian President Alvaro Uribe goes for launching a military raid at the border.