Caracas, August 26 (teleSUR-RHC)-- Venezuelan Foreign Ministry Delcy Rodriguez met with her Colombian counterpart Maria Angela Holguin on Wednesday to discuss the ongoing crisis at the border between both countries.  The meeting took place in Colombia.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro made the decision to shut down two border crossings after a shootout between smugglers and Colombian paramilitary troops killed three Venezuelan soldiers.  A State of Exception was declared and Venezuelan soldiers are now patrolling the border.

Meanwhile, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has said that it's not the time to sound the “trumpets of war,” and insisted that diplomacy will prevail in the talks with Venezuela, however he also delivered a strong rebuke against Maduro.

Maduro responded saying there are about five million Colombians living in Venezuela and enjoying free medical attention and education after fleeing violence in their country.  

President Maduro vowed to extend a crackdown on undocumented migrants living along the border in order to defend residents in the area from actions of paramilitary groups linked to Uribe, and has proposed the creation of a political movement for peace that would include Colombian migrants living in the country.

The right wing in Colombia has criticized President Santos, saying he has taken a weak tack with Maduro after years of bilateral tensions.