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BBC
Farc rebel link files 'genuine'
Weapons found at the Farc camp The
raid in Ecuador caused serious diplomatic tensions
International police agency Interpol says Colombian officials did not
tamper with computers which they claim provide proof Venezuela
financed Farc rebels.
The hard drives were purportedly seized after a raid on a rebel camp
in Ecuador at the beginning of March.
Although Interpol certified the authenticity of the files, not their
contents, correspondents say their tests add credence to Colombian
claims.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez vehemently dismissed the
allegations.
He said the report was merely a "clown show" that "doesn't deserve
serious comment".
Both Venezuela and Ecuador say that any contacts with the
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) were solely made as part
of a humanitarian effort to free hostages held by the left-wing
guerrillas.
Authenticity confirmed
Colombian forces attacked the Farc camp located just across the border
in Ecuador on 1 March.
We are absolutely certain that the computer discs our experts
examined came from a FARC terrorist camp Ronald Noble Interpol
secretary general
The computers they seized contain files which, according to Bogota,
show that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez was personally involved in
financing and supplying arms to the rebels.
They also suggest that Ecuador maintained links with the Farc.
The Colombian authorities asked Interpol to check the files after Mr
Chavez accused them of faking the documents.
Interpol head Ronald Noble said his team had not analysed the
information contained on the drives, as Interpol's remit extended only
to certifying the authenticity of the documents, not their contents.
Mr Noble said that deep forensic analyses showed Colombia did not
modify, delete or create any files, although it did not always follow
internationally accepted methods when handling the computers.
"We are absolutely certain that the computer discs our experts
examined came from a Farc terrorist camp," he said.
But he was quick to stress that the fact that the files had not been
tampered with did not prove that the information contained within them
was totally accurate.
By weighing in and putting its seal of authenticity on the documents,
Interpol is in a sense adding much greater credence to the Colombian
government's allegations, says the BBC's Americas editor Emilio San
Pedro.
Washington has confirmed it believes the files are genuine and that
the implications for Venezuela, if it has supported the Farc - which
is on the US and European lists of terrorist organisations - could be
very serious.
But the files use codes and aliases throughout and nowhere is Mr
Chavez mentioned by name.
Senior Farc commander Raul Reyes was among 25 people killed in the
attack.
The raid provoked the worst regional tensions in recent years, with
Ecuador breaking off diplomatic relations with Colombia.
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