The Colombian army installed its third military base with 1,000 troops on the border with Venezuela, the Colombian government said.

Governor of northeastern department Norte de Santander Luis Morelli said the base, the third to be established this year, will begin operations in October in the Catatumbo border region.

One brigade is based in Cucuta city and is already operating in Norte de Santander and a mobile base is patrolling across Ocana province.

Colombia and Venezuela share 2,219 km of border that is often illegally crossed by armed groups who extort, kidnap and smuggle drugs and gasoline.

Agencies

Güncelleme Tarihi: 24 Temmuz 2007, 15:10