'Reason for US note on troops to Colombia unknown'

By Diyar Guldogan

ANKARA (AA) - Colombia has no knowledge of the import of the words "5,000 troops to Colombia" seen scribbled on a pad used by the U.S. national security advisor, the country's foreign minister has said.

"Regarding the mention of Colombia in the notebook that Mr. [National Security Advisor John] Bolton had in his hands, the scope and reason for the annotation is unknown," Carlos Holmes Trujillo was quoted as saying in a statement late Monday.

Trujillo's remarks followed a press briefing on new sanctions on Venezuela where Bolton was seen holding a yellow legal pad with the handwritten words "5,000 troops to Colombia."

Bolton Monday announced that the U.S. blacklisted Venezuela's state-owned oil and natural gas company PDVSA as it continues to ramp up economic and diplomatic pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

The economic salvo comes after Venezuelan National Assembly President Juan Guaido declared himself interim president last week under Articles 333 and 350 of the Venezuelan Constitution.

The U.S., Canada, and many Latin American nations were quick to recognize Guaido's claim, as Maduro quickly lashed out, calling on Washington to withdraw its diplomats from Venezuela.