CARACAS (Reuters) – President Hugo Chavez said yesterday he had “nothing to explain” to Spain’s President Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero after a judge alleged links between the Venezuelan government and ETA and FARC rebels.

“This is a government that has does not and will not support terrorist groups, we are of peace, of friendship,” Chavez said.

Zapatero demanded an explanation from Venezuela after a Spanish judge on Monday said Venezuelan soldiers and an alleged ETA member working for the Venezuelan government facilitated a meeting between the Basque separatists and Colombia’s FARC rebels, both considered terrorist groups by Europe.