Christian Science Monitor
Colombia launches US drones over Venezuela – or was that 'Santa's sleigh'?
Dec 22--After claiming that Venezuelan soldiers saw a US drone fly overhead a few days ago, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez ordered the military to shoot down the 'Yankee technology' next time. Colombia's defense minister said Venezuelan soldiers may have seen 'Father Christmas's sleigh.
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Colombia on Monday dismissed claims that it had sent spy drones over neighboring Venezuela, with the defense minister joking that perhaps Venezuelans had seen Santa's sleigh.
The denial came after Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez accused Colombia of launching US-made spy drones over Venezuelan territory, in the latest sign of worsening tensions between the two South American neighbors.
Colombian officials said they do not have the capability to launch the drones described by Chavez, the Associated Press reported.
Colombian Defense Minister Gabriel Silva and armed forces commander Freddy Padilla told reporters Monday that Colombian aircraft couldn't fly the kind of espionage mission described by Chavez.
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