AFP, Jul 26, 2010, 01.21am IST. CARACAS: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez abruptly cancelled a trip to Cuba on Sunday, citing the danger of "armed aggression" by Colombia amid escalating tensions between the South American neighbors.

Announcing the decision at a political event, Chavez said he had intelligence that "the possibility of an armed aggression against Venezuelan territory from Colombia" was higher than it has been "in one hundred years."

"Everything points to the Colombian government, and even more so to the United States -- there you have the guilty one, there you have the great instigator," added Chavez, who is highly critical of a US-Colombian military base deal struck last year.

Chavez said Venezuela was ready to repel any aggression from Colombia.

Chavez broke off diplomatic relations with Bogota on Thursday in response to charges by President Alvaro Uribe that 1,500 Colombian guerrillas had taken refuge in Venezuela and were launching attacks from its territory.

The United States on Friday threw its support behind its key ally Colombia in its latest row with Venezuela, calling Chavez's decision to sever diplomatic relations with Colombia and put border troops on alert "a petulant response" to Bogota's
accusations.