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Venezuela Deports 3 Suspected Rebels to Colombia


Venezuela has deported three suspected rebels back to Colombia in a sign of improved cooperation between the two countries.

Officials from both nations say the alleged guerillas were handed over to Colombian authorities in Bogota late Wednesday. The three were wanted for murder, kidnapping and inciting war.

One of the suspects is believed to be a member of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - or FARC, Colombia's main rebel group. The other two are believed to be members of the National Liberation Army, also known as ELN.

Relations between the two nations began warming in August when Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez and his Colombian counterpart Juan Manuel Santos met after Santos won Colombia's presidential election to succeed Alvaro Uribe.

During that meeting, Venezuela and Colombia restored diplomatic relations that were cut last year after Uribe accused Venezuela of harboring leftist Colombian rebels.

The two presidents also met earlier this month in Caracas to discuss cooperation on energy and infrastructure projects and re-establishing political ties.

Some information for this report was provided by AP.

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