Chavez

WASHINGTON (AP):

The United States yesterday brushed aside Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's call for governments to stop classifying the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, rebel group as terrorists.

''You'll excuse me if we don't take that advice,'' State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said. ''They earned their way onto the terrorism list.''

McCormack said he was not aware of any change in behaviour that would merit the group being removed from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism.