March 4 (Bloomberg) -- Venezuela's government has ordered the closure of its border with Colombia, as tensions between the two countries rise, EFE reported the country's agricultural and land Minister, Elias Jaua, as saying.

Venezuela's government has already ordered more troops to the border, and yesterday expelled the Colombian ambassador in Caracas, Jaua said, according to the news service.

To contact the reporter on this story: Matthew Walter in Caracas at mwalter4@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: March 4, 2008 08:57 EST