Colombia has accused Venezuela of blowing up two pedestrian bridges that link the countries.

Gabriel Silva, Colombia's defence minister, said uniformed men, allegedly from the Venezuelan army, blew up the bridges that cross into Colombia's Norte de Santander state.

Other Colombian officials say they plan to file a complaint with the Organisation of American States and the UN Security Council.

Ramon Carrizalez, Venezuela's vice-president said the bridges were removed on the Venezuelan side and that they were illegal crossings used for drug trafficking.

'Prepare for war'

Al Jazeera's Monica Villamizar, reporting from the Colombian capital Bogota, said there was a real fear among local residents that the current tensions could escalate into a conflict with Venezuela.

Tensions have grown between the two countries after Bogota granted the US more access to its military bases – a move the US and Colombia say is to help in the Latin American country's fight against drugs and leftist fighters.

Venezuela's president recently told his armed forces to "prepare for war", saying the US-Colombia military pact could set the stage for a US invasion.

Chavez's comments sparked clashes on the Colombia-Venezuela border last week, where Colombians fought with Venezuelan border guards who responded by firing tear gas.