DHAKA: The Venezuelan president has declared a state of emergency in a border region near Colombia following an attack by smugglers in which three soldiers and a civilian were injured.

Nicolas Maduro said there would be 60 days of martial law in five municipalities of the state of Tachira.

He also said the closure of the border, announced on Thursday, will be extended until further notice.

Petrol and food smugglers have increasingly clashed with officers, reports the BBC.

According to the report, Maduro said Colombian paramilitary groups regularly travel to Venezuela, generating chaos and shortages in order to destabilize the revolution.

Maduro said an extra 1,500 soldiers had arrived to reinforce the area.

‘This decree provides ample power to civil and military authorities to restore peace,’ he said in a broadcast on state television.

On Wednesday, three Venezuelan army officers and a civilian were injured in riots with Colombian smugglers.

BDST: 1609 HRS, AUG 22, 2015
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