World in brief: Chavez alleges U.S.-Colombia plot

CARACAS, Venezuela – President Hugo Chavez is accusing Colombia and the United States of plotting to set up a fake rebel camp on Venezuelan soil to discredit his government.

Chavez accused Colombia of preparing what he called a “false positive” operation, saying on Monday that it’s feasible the neighboring country could build a makeshift camp in a remote location, then plant corpses and guns to make it look like a rebel camp had been discovered.

Colombian officials have said that leftist rebel commanders from their country are taking refuge in Venezuela. Chavez says the officials are falsely trying to portray him as being in cahoots with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, which Colombia has been battling for decades.

“The verbal war against Venezuela began weeks ago, saying that we have I don’t know how many guerrilla chiefs hidden here … that in Venezuela there are rebel camps protected by the Venezuelan government, which is absolutely false,” Chavez told troops during a televised speech in the western border state of Zulia.

“We have evidence that the Colombian government, instructed and supported, or rather directed by the United States, is preparing a ‘false positive,’ ” Chavez said.

Saudi tourists killed in Niger

NIAMEY, Niger – Unidentified gunmen shot dead three tourists from Saudi Arabia in an attack Monday in Niger’s remote western desert, officials said.

Three other Saudi citizens were also wounded in the assault, Niger government spokesman Mamane Kassoum Moktar told The Associated Press.

Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled bin Saud told Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya TV the tourists were leaving Niger for neighboring Mali when they were attacked around dawn after stopping their vehicle to perform morning prayers.

It was not clear what sparked the violence, but local insurgents, bandits and members of al-Qaida’s Algeria-based North Africa branch are active in the area.

Pirate says Chinese paid $4 million

MOGADISHU, Somalia – A band of Somali pirates split a $4 million ransom to release a Chinese cargo ship and 25 sailors after two months in captivity, one of the hijackers said Monday.

The EU Naval Force said the bulk carrier De Xin Hai was released outside of Hobyo, Somalia, on Sunday. The crew and ship are in good condition, the force said.