Venezuela denounces 'kidnapping' of eight soldiers by Colombian armed groups
Demonstrators clash with members of the security forces during a protest against what they say was police brutality exerted in recent protests against President Ivan Duque's government's tax reform in Cali, Colombia
Venezuelaon Saturday condemned what it said was the "kidnapping" ofeightsoldiersbyarmedgroupsoperating on theColombianborder, where clashes have been ongoing for nearly two months.
'During the fighting,eightprofessionalsoldierswere captured and on May 9 we received proof of life,'Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said in a televised statement.
'We denounce before the international community... the appallingkidnappingof thesesoldiers,'he said.
Venezuela'sarmedforces have engaged in clashes withColombianarmedgroupsalong the border since March 21, displacing thousands of civilians who fled to Colombia.
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Venezueladoes not name thearmedgroupsit blames for the unrest, apart from calling them 'terrorists'or linking them to drug trafficking or toColombianPresident Ivan Duque.
However, security sources in Colombia say they are likely dissidents of the now-disbanded RevolutionaryArmedForces of Colombia (FARC) rebel group, an analysis Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has conceded was possible.
'We will spare no effort and we will exhaust all possible ways to recover them safe and sound,'Padrino said of thesoldiers, surrounded by members of the country's military brass.
Last Monday, Fundaredes, an NGO that is critical of Maduro, published documents from alleged FARC dissidents detailing how theeightsoldierswere 'captured as prisoners of war,'in clashes withVenezuela.
In the documents, the dissidents appealed to the Red Cross to act as an intermediary for handing over the captives.
The Red Cross told AFP it was aware of the text, but would not comment on it at present.
According to Padrino,Venezuela's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is coordinating with the Red Cross to 'serve as a link in the delivery'of thesoldiers.
'We have established the necessary contacts for an early release,'he said.
A total of 16 members of the Venezuelanarmedforces have died since the clashes began, according to an official report by the Venezuelan Ministry of Defense.
Venezuelaand Colombia, which share a 2,200-kilometer (1,370-mile) border, severed ties in January 2019, after Duque's government recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as the leader ofVenezuelaover Maduro.