Ecuador to send war planes to border with Colombia

QUITO, Ecuador, Feb. 1 (Reuters) - Ecuador plans to send war planes to its northern border on Wednesday as part of a response to an alleged incursion into its territory by Colombian aircraft, the president's spokesman said on Tuesday.

The dispute stems from an alleged incursion of Colombian war planes into Ecuador's air space on Saturday as they battled leftist rebels along the border.

"A group of A-37 planes will be staying along the border with Colombia starting tomorrow," presidential spokesman Jose Toledo said.

The Cessna Dragonfly A-37s, which can be equipped with bombs, rockets and machine guns, will be sent to safeguard Ecuador's territory, Toledo said.

Toledo did not say how many planes were going to be sent or at which bases they will be stationed.

On Monday, Ecuador issued a formal protest against Colombia and requested an apology from its northern neighbor.

Colombia launched an investigation of the incident, government officials said on Tuesday.

In the past Colombia has called on Ecuador to help fight Marxist guerrillas along the border who fund themselves by kidnapping for ransom and smuggling cocaine.

But Ecuador has declared itself neutral in Colombia's struggle against a 41-year-old Marxist insurgency.

In recent months, Ecuador has repeatedly accused Colombia of sending troops inside its territory.