BOGOTA, January 23, SPA -- A fierce diplomatic dispute betweenVenezuela and Colombia is unlikely to develop into a conflictbecause the two Andean neighbors have strong ties, a senior U.S. official said on Wednesday, according to Reuters. "We see no possibility of conflict between the twocountries. On the contrary, they have such deep and importantties the governments will find a way to manage," Tom Shannon,assistant secretary of state for the Western Hemisphere, toldlocal Caracol radio in Spanish. He was speaking in advance of a visit to Colombia by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Friday during which she isexpected to reinforce U.S. economic and political backing forUribe. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has recalled his Bogota envoy andattacked President Alvaro Uribe after a dispute over Chavez's rolein freeing hostages held by Colombian rebels. The diplomatic crisis broke out last year after Uribe endedChavez's attempts to negotiate with the Revolutionary Armed Forcesof Colombia, or FARC, rebels over their hostages, who include aFrench-Colombian politician and three Americans. --SPA www.spa.gov.sa/520526