USA President Barack Obama has announced that the U.S. combat mission in Iraq is over. The president said Tuesday America’s new mission is to advise and assist Iraq’s security forces.
Seven-and-a-half years after U.S. forces invaded Iraq, President Obama thanked the troops for their service and announced that their combat mission has concluded. “Operation Iraqi Freedom is over, and the Iraqi people now have lead responsibility for the security of their country,” he said.
In only the second Oval Office address of his presidency since taking office, Mr. Obama did not declare victory, but said the move to a new mission is underway. “Through this remarkable chapter in the history of the United States and Iraq, we have met our responsibility. Now, it is time to turn the page,” the president said.
Presidents of both Countries, Juan Manuel Santos and Hugo Chavez, have decided to resume diplomatic relations interrupted by Caracas after accusations from Bogota’ to give ospitality to elements of colombian guerrilla.
In a meeting of Santa Marta, in Colombia, Chavez and Santos have also decided to work together to contrast the presence of armed groups at border.
Venezuela has beefed up its troop presence along the border with Colombia amid heightened tension between the two South American nations.
Caracas has sent about one thousand troops to the border, citing the threat of an armed conflict with Bogota.
“We have a reinforcement of 980 to 1,000 troops for the protection of the border, but there are no unusual operations; we are staying on alert,” Reuters quoted Franklin Marquez, a regional commander for the Venezuelan National Guard, as saying on Monday.
Venezuela has cut ties with Colombia, after being accused of harbouring FARC rebels.
At a meeting of the Organisation of American States (OAS), Colombian ambassador Luis Alfonso Hoyos demanded an international commission investigate sites in Venezuela where the guerrillas are believed to be hiding.
He accused Caracas of helping rebels responsible for kidnappings, drug-trafficking and murder.
Speaking at the OAS meeting, Hoyos said: “Colombia does not want to return to this nightmare. And I say to the people of Venezuela, don’t let yourselves be enslaved by this nightmare. It is a tragedy we have suffered.”
The Organization of American States (OAS) is to hold a special meeting on 22 July to hear Colombia’s complaint that Venezuela tolerates Colombian rebel camps on its territory.
Colombia says it has strong evidence that Venezuela is providing a safe haven for left-wing guerrillas.
Venezuela strongly denies the charge.
It has accused Colombia’s President, Alvaro Uribe, of trying to provoke a diplomatic crisis before he leaves office next month.
“Colombia has the right to denounce in front of the international community the presence of guerrillas in Venezuela”, Colombian Interior Minister Fabio Valencia said.
