Chavez asks Colombia's Uribe to explain base plan

[Judi Lynn]

Chavez asks Colombia's Uribe to explain base plan
Reuters
Saturday, August 8, 2009; 6:20 PM

BOGOTA (Reuters) - Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez on Saturday told Colombian President Alvaro Uribe to show up to a regional summit to explain a plan to expand the U.S. troop presence at Colombian military bases.

The proposal to allow the U.S. military to use seven Colombian military installations for counter-drug operations has soured ties between the Andean neighbors and fueled concern from governments across the region from Brazil to Chile.

A fierce opponent of U.S. influence, Chavez joins other South American leaders on Monday for a summit in Ecuador, where the base plan is expected to top the agenda. U.S. ally Uribe is not attending, but toured the region to drum up support.

"Uribe should show up, come and face the music and let's sit down and talk," Chavez told local Colombian television RCN.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/08/AR2009080801976.html