[Cincinatus' Wife]

Venezuela Restricts Imports: Paper Imports For Books Not Newspapers*** CARACAS -(Dow Jones)- Venezuelan Trade Minister Ramon Rosales said a recently published list of "importable" items included paper only for text books and not for newspapers, which are a lower priority, local daily El Nacional reported Thursday. Paper for newspapers may be included in future lists, and newspaper owners needing to import paper can file a request for "reconsideration," Rosales was quoted as saying. Rosales couldn't be reached for further comment.

Newsprint isn't manufactured in Venezuela and many local newspapers have said they only have paper to last them through about April. Opponents of President Hugo Chavez warn he'll likely use the new rules to close newspapers critical of his administration, which they say is becoming increasingly dictatorial. Chavez often accuses some newspapers, along with television and radio stations, of unfair coverage. ***

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Venezuela reinforces military along Colombian border -Denies existence of FARC terrorist camp*** *** Army commander Gen. Jorge Garcia Carneiro toured military posts in the frontier Wednesday. He plans to submit a report on the military situation to President Hugo Chavez. Blanco's comments came after news reports in Bogota that Colombian rebels had established bases in Venezuela. But Blanco dismissed the allegations as "irresponsible." "We are patrolling and fulfilling our mission," he said.

Colombia's leading daily El Tiempo reported Wednesday that the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, runs a training school for some 400 rebels in Venezuela. Citing an unidentified report from the Colombian army, the newspaper also said that the National Liberation Army, or ELN, has a camp in Venezuela that it uses as an air base and hideout for kidnap victims. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Roy Chaderton denied the report, saying Colombian officials would have contacted Venezuelan authorities by now if it were true. Chaderton said he believed someone provided false information to the press.

On Thursday, a Venezuelan opposition politician claimed he has a report by Venezuela's Environment Ministry confirming the existence of a FARC camp in Sierra de Perija. The report says the camp has a water tank, a cafeteria for 50 people and a dormitory, Fernando Villasmil, president of the legislature of western Zulia state, said in an interview with Union Radio. Environment Ministry officials did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

Earlier in the week, Chaderton said his country would not declare Colombian rebels terrorists because that would make it harder for Venezuela to help broker any future peace agreement in the civil war. Chavez has condemned rebel bombings and kidnappings as "acts of terrorism." Caracas and Bogota are considering calling a meeting between Chavez and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe to discuss relations, which have been rocky for years. Many Colombians believe that the Venezuelan government is sympathetic to the leftist rebels, and some have even accused Venezuelan authorities of harboring rebels.

Chavez denies supporting rebels.***