Western Hemisphere
The Colombian government on Wednesday asked Venezuelan authorities not to judge in advance concerning the slaughter of a dozen Colombians in Venezuela and to speed up the inquiries to clarify the events.

"With regard to the killing of Colombians in Venezuela, any assumption is very serious. Some people in that country are suggesting that, for being presumed members of misnamed paramilitary groups, there would be some justification for what happened," said Colombian Minister of Foreign Affairs Jaime Bermúdez.

"In the face of the murder of any citizen, the State action should be equally resolute, whether parties who purport to replace it, terrorists, drug traffickers or militias. Justice should fully work with no room for political judgments in advance," added the top officer in a communiqué quoted by AFP.

Bermúdez also "regretted" on behalf of the government of Colombian President Álvaro Uribe, "the death of two members of the National Guard of Venezuela and expressed solidarity with the victims' relatives and friends."