CARACAS, (Reuters) - Venezuela said yesterday that  it had captured Colombian security agents it said planned to  destabilize the government, heightening tensions in the ongoing  diplomatic row between the Andean nations.

Venezuelan Deputy Foreign Minister Francisco Arias Cardenas  confirmed that there had been arrests, but did not provide  details or say how many Colombians were detained.       “Do not underestimate the importance of an event as serious  and as grave as the capture of Colombian DAS security agents  committing acts of espionage,” Cardenas told reporters.

He said Venezuela would present evidence to support the  charges in the next few hours. Diplomatic and commercial ties between the South American  neighbors have been frayed before. Earlier this year, President  Hugo Chavez suspended relations and reduced trade over a  Colombian plan to allow U.S. troops to use seven of its bases. Tensions between Caracas and Bogota were reignited over the  weekend after the murder of 10 members of an amateur Colombian  football team across the border in Venezuela, an incident the  Venezuelan government said it would investigate.

Colombia refused to respond to the accusations of espionage  in Venezuela.
“I will not be provoked. I think it is important not to  lose sight of the central point that is the fact 10 people,  including eight Colombians, were killed in a massacre,” said  Maria Luisa Chiape, the Colombian ambassador to Venezuela.