WRAPUP 1-Colombia rules out war as Latin left forms front

By Hugh Bronstein

BOGOTA, March 6 (Reuters) - A leftist Latin American alliance formed around Ecuador and Venezuela on Thursday, isolating their U.S.-backed neighbor Colombia, which said the dispute over its bombing of rebels on Ecuadorean soil would not end in war.

Leaders crisscrossed the region putting diplomatic pressure on Colombian President Alvaro Uribe after his forces bombed rebels inside Ecuador during the weekend.

With governments worldwide, including the United States, calling for a negotiated solution, Colombia downplayed fears over what would be the first military conflict between Latin America nations in more than a decade.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who says socialism can unite South America against "U.S. imperialism," jumped into the dispute during the weekend after feuding for months with Colombia over his efforts at mediating the release rebel-held hostages.

Chavez has warned that war could break out and Ecuador and Venezuela both sent additional troops to their borders with Colombia. Other officials said they doubted the crisis would lead to military conflict involving the three states on the northwestern shoulder of South America.

"I don't think there is a risk of war. The Colombian government has been very clear it won't use force," Colombian Vice President Francisco Santos told Reuters during a visit to Brussels for talks with EU officials.

"It won't fall into the game of provocation."

In a show of unity, Chavez hosted his Ecuadorean counterpart. Argentina's leftist president, Cristina Fernandez, also went to Caracas to underscore her support for Chavez.