Across the World: Colombia

US military pact signed

In a private, low-key ceremony, the US ambassador to Colombia and three Colombian ministers on Friday signed a pact to expand Washington's military's presence, a deal that Venezuela's Hugo Chavez has called a threat to the region's security.

The Foreign Ministry said in a brief news release that the pact "respects the principles of equal sovereignty, territorial integrity and nonintervention in the internal affairs of other states". No details of the pact were provided. However, officials have said it would increase US access to 7 Colombian bases for 10 years.