Guyana, Venezuela at odds over gold boats

CARACAS, Venezuela, Nov. 17 (UPI) -- The destruction of two gold-mining barges in the South American nation of Guyana has intensified a border dispute with neighboring Venezuela.

Guyana officials allege 36 Venezuelan soldiers were behind the destruction of the two gold-mining dredges in a disputed border region Thursday. The Guyana officials allege the Venezuelan soldiers used plastic explosives to blow up the equipment, the BBC reported Saturday.

Venezuelan Ambassador Dario Morandy said Friday his country's military had not violated Guyana's borders, adding the area where the dredges had been operating was owned by his country.

"Venezuela was protecting its natural resources and we need to remove all illegal miners from the area," Morandy told Stabroek News.

Guyana officials have opposed that stance, claiming the incident took place in the Cuyuni River, a region their country controls.

A formal protest of the incident has been filed by the Guyana Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and a group of military and police officials are expected to conduct an investigation to determine any wrongdoing.