Colombians face spy, sabotage trial in Venezuela

[Bacchus39]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100512/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/lt_venezuela_colombia

CARACAS, Venezuela – Five Colombians were transferred to a military court Wednesday to face espionage and sabotage charges after Venezuelan officials accused them of spying on and tampering with the nation's power grid.

The proceedings will take place at a military tribunal in the northeastern city of Maracay, the state-run ABN news agency reported. ABN did not provide additional details such as when it would begin, and it was not immediately clear whether three other Colombians also arrested in March would be tried.

Military prosecutors have not spoken about the case, but President Hugo Chavez announced last month that the Colombians were arrested as suspected spies. He said several carried documents identifying them as members of the Colombian military.

Officials claim they were photographing power plants, and Chavez said he believed they were involved in an effort to sabotage Venezuela's electrical grid to worsen the country's energy crisis.

Investigators say they confiscated a camera containing images of power plants and installations connected to the grid, though no photos have been made public.

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has expressed concern about the treatment of his country's citizens and urged human rights groups to monitor the case, and the Foreign Ministry has asked Venezuela to explain the arrests.

Colombia has denied involvement in any attempt to spy on or sabotage Venezuela's power grid.

The arrests have escalated long-standing tensions between Chavez's socialist administration and Colombia's U.S.-allied government.

Chavez is angry over a Colombian deal to give the U.S. increased access to its military bases. Colombia, meanwhile, accuses Venezuela of supporting Colombia's Marxist rebels — an allegation that Chavez denies.