CARACAS, Venezuela, April 18 (UPI) -- Eight Colombian soldiers were detained in Venezuela during the weekend while trying to return from a short leave, Venezuela's Globovsion TV reported Monday
Colombian officials are urging the Venezuelan military -- which is holding the soldiers -- to immediately release them.
The Colombian soldiers' arrest followed the detention of five armed Colombians, believed to be right-wing paramilitaries, in a separate incident.
In January, Colombia and Venezuela were in a brief spat over the abduction of a left-wing Colombian rebel leader in Caracas. Colombia admitted paying Venezuelan police to pick up the rebel leader and take bring him to Colombia to face trial.
Colombia has been battling Marxist rebel groups for more than 40 years.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called the move a "violation of Venezuela's sovereignty" and temporarily cut economic and diplomatic ties. Colombia has accused Chavez of supporting, and even arming, Colombian rebels, an assertion the Venezuelan president has denied.
