QUITO, March 14 -- Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa Friday told his U.S. counterpart George W. Bush to "shut up," in response to U.S. criticism that Ecuador harbors rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

    In a declaration published by the presidency, Correa also challenged Bush to send troops to the Colombian-Ecuadorian border.

    "Bring your soldiers Bush, let your soldiers die at the southern border with Colombia. Let's see if U.S. citizens will accept such an outrage. Otherwise, shut up and try to understand what's happening in Latin America," Correa added.

    Correa made the remarks following implied criticism of Ecuador by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who said Thursday during a visit to Brazil that "responsible states" should not let their territory be used by "terrorists.

    Ecuador severed diplomatic ties with Colombia after Colombian troops entered its territory on March 1 to attack a camp of the FARC, calling the raid a violation of its territorial sovereignty.

    In their responses, Venezuela expelled Colombian diplomats and Nicaragua severed diplomatic ties with Colombia. Both Ecuador and Venezuela had also deployed troops at their respective borders with Colombia at the height of the crisis.

    On March 7, Ecuador, Venezuela, Nicaragua and Colombia agreed to declare the border crisis over at the 20th Rio Group Summit held in the Dominican Republic.

    Venezuela has since reestablished diplomatic ties with Colombia. On Tuesday, Ecuador's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Diego Stacey said Ecuador will restore diplomatic relations with Colombia next Monday.