Colombian Defense Minister Gabriel Silva said Oct. 27 that a deal giving the U.S. military access to Colombian bases will be signed at the end of the week. The accord, which has led to howls of protest in several South American capitals, "will be signed when I return to Bogota at the end of the week," Silva told journalists during a visit to Washington. "It is possible" the signing will be as early as Oct. 30, he added.

By Agence France-Presse

Under the deal, Colombia has pledged to allow the United States, its closest ally, to use seven bases for help in fighting insurgencies and drug traffickers. Several countries in the region - notably Venezuela, Ecuador and Bolivia - have objected, claiming the planned U.S. military deployment is suspiciously large for its stated purpose.

U.S. officials have repeatedly insisted that the deal involves using Colombian bases and will not lead to the building of U.S. facilities on South American soil, as some critics of the plans fear. Tensions have flared in Latin America since the deal emerged, with Venezuelan Hugo Chavez warning that "winds of war" were blowing across the continent.Fears of an arms race in the region were raised further last month when Caracas purchased Russian military hardware worth $4 billion.