Colombian rebels say did not fund Ecuador's Correa

Colombia's biggest rebel army denied on Tuesday government accusations that it gave money to the political campaign of leftist President Rafael Correa of neighboring Ecuador. The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, said the Colombian government manipulated a video released earlier this month in which a top FARC commander said the rebels helped fund Correa's 2006 presidential campaign. The issue has exacerbated tensions between U.S.-backed Colombia and socialist leaders in the region who criticize Washington while forging ties with Russia, China and Iran. Colombia points to the tape as proof that Correa is too cozy with the guerrillas, a claim he dismisses. The FARC, branded a terrorist organization by the United States, called the accusation "a smoke screen." "Washington and Bogota manipulated the video, taking the document out of context," said a statement signed by the FARC's governing secretariat. "We categorically deny having given money to any election campaign of any neighboring country."