Ecuadorian soldiers board a helicopter heading for Angostura, near the border with Colombia, yesterday. An incursion by Colombian troops on the weekend has incurred the wrath of the Venezuelan and Ecuadorian governments. - AP photo

CARACAS (AP):

Venezuela and Ecuador ordered troops to their borders with Colombia, sharply raising tensions after Colombia killed a top rebel leader on Ecuadorean soil.

President Hugo Chavez on Sunday promised Venezuela would respond militarily if Colombia violates its border, where he ordered tanks as well as thousands of troops. He also ordered closed Venezuela's embassy in Bogota.

Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa said he deployed troops while also withdrawing his ambassador from Bogota and expelling Colombia's top diplomat.

No justification

"There is no justification," Correa said Sunday night, snubbing an earlier announcement from Colombia that it would apologise for the military incursion. Ecuadorian troops headed for the border yesterday in helicopters.

Chavez called the killing of rebel leader and spokesman Raul Reyes and 16 other guerrillas on Saturday an attack by a "terrorist state", labelling Colombian President Alvaro Uribe a "criminal".

"Mr Defence Minister, move 10 battalions to the border with Colombia for me, immediately - tank battalions. Deploy the air force," Chavez said during his Sunday radio and television programme.

Correa said Colombia deliberately carried out the strike beyond its borders, flying deep into Ecuador to bomb the rebel camp. He said the rebels were "bombed and massacred as they slept, using precision technology".

The Colombian military said the camp was located 1.8 kilometres (just over a mile) from the border.

Colombian officials have long complained rebels are allowed to take refuge across its borders in both Ecuador and Venezuela.

Under control

Colombian Defence Minister Juan Manuel Santos said on Monday that his government isn't moving any troops and "we have the situation under control".

"We prefer to leave President Chavez out of this discussion," Santos told Caracol radio. "We don't mention that person, we don't make any comments on what he says, does or suggests."

A US State Department spokesman, Tom Casey, said the United States supports Colombia's right to defend itself against the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) and called for dialogue between Colombia and Ecuador.

"From our perspective this is an issue between Colombia and Ecuador," he said. "I'm not sure what this has to do with Venezuela."

In Chile, President Michelle Bachelet offered to mediate in the conflict.

"A situation like this requires an explanation from Colombia to Ecuadorians, to the Ecuadorian president and to the entire region," Bachelet said. "We are very worried."

Mexico and Brazil also expressed a willingness to provide diplomatic mediation.