BOGOTA, Jan. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- The Colombian defense minister acknowledged Wednesday his country paid for information that led to the capture of a FARC senior rebel, but denied violating Venezuela's sovereignty.

   ¡¡Defense Minister Jorge Alberto Uribe's remarks came after Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez had accused the Colombian police of lying and said leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia Rodrigo Granda was kidnapped in Caracas, capital of Venezuela.

    Uribe said his country "paid for information that allowed Granda to enter the Colombian territory and the hands of the Colombian police."

    But he denied that Colombia has encouraged police or authorities in other countries to search for rebel leaders in irregular ways.

    Uribe previously said Granda, also known as Ricardo Gonzalez, was arrested in the Colombian town of Cucuta near the border with Venezuela on Dec. 13. Enditem