Ecuador's Correa wants OAS support over rebel raid

BRASILIA (Reuters) - Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa demanded on Wednesday that the Organization of American States take a firm stand against Colombia for its raid on a rebel camp inside Ecuador.

Correa spoke after meeting Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as part of a trip through Latin American countries to win support in the dispute, which has escalated into the most serious regional spat in years.

"We demand the OAS takes a stand quickly," Correa said.

He wanted the organization, the region's top diplomatic forum, to quickly reaffirm the sovereignty of national territory and condemn the Colombian attack "so that this will never again be tolerated in Latin America."

It should also send a committee to investigate Saturday's raid by Colombia, Correa said.

The OAS failed to reach agreement on the crisis on Tuesday.

The dispute broke out after a weekend operation by Colombian troops against a FARC rebel camp inside Ecuador.

Ecuador and Venezuela have cut diplomatic ties with Colombia and moved troops toward their borders.

Brazil, the regional diplomatic power, and most other Latin American countries have condemned the raid and called on Colombia to apologize.

Foreign Minister Celso Amorim, who spent the last three days trying to defuse the conflict, said he was confident the OAS would reach an agreement.

"I think it is possible to find a diplomatic solution," Amorim said. "I see progress, there is a willingness to reach an agreement."

Amorim suggested the U.S. government, which backed Colombia after the attack, remain on the sidelines.

"The more we can keep this within the Latin American sphere, the better the chance of a solution and avoiding a polarization in the region," Amorim said when asked to comment on U.S. President George W. Bush's statement of support for Colombia on Tuesday.

(Reporting by Raymond Colitt; Editing by Angus MacSwan and Vicki Allen)