The Spanish government has asked Venezuela for an explanation, after a Spanish judge said that there are signs of “cooperation” between the government of President Hugo Chávez and the alliance formed by the Basque separatist group ETA and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), said on Monday Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.

Zapatero made the announcement at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, after Spanish judge Eloy Velasco -who charged several ETA and FARC members with cooperation to assassinate several top Colombian government officials in Spain- said that there is evidence of such cooperation.

Zapatero added that he respects the role of the judge of the Spanish High Court and informed that Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos took the “appropriate steps” with the Venezuelan government to request an explanation, Efe reported.

“We are waiting for an explanation from Venezuela and the Spanish government will act accordingly,” Zapatero said.

The quarrel comes as tensions run high between Venezuela and Colombia over Caraca’s alleged support for FARC. Spain’s relations with Venezuela have suffered in recent years, with King Juan Carlos telling Chavez to “shut up” at a summit in Chile in 2007 after the Venezuelan president repreatedly interrupted Zapatero.

via Spain demands explanations from Venezuela on alleged links with ETA | Momento 24.