US rejects Chavez call to remove FARC terror group label

[maddezmom]

Source: AFP

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Washington rejected Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's call for the international community to stop branding Colombia's Marxist rebels terrorists, amid news of the leftists' apparent seizure of six more hostages Monday.

"You'll excuse me if we don't take that advice," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said.

"Look, they earned their way on to the terrorism list," McCormack said, noting that FARC continues to hold many hostages, including three Americans, despite their release of two Colombian politicians last week.

"If there is any reason whatsoever to take a group off the terrorism list, then that's done," McCormack said. "But I'm not aware of any substantial change in a pattern of behavior by the FARC that would merit their being taken off the list."



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080115/pl_afp/uscolombiavenezuelafarc_080115060055