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Uribe and Chavez try to heal rift Uribe and Chavez try to heal rift
(20 minutes later)
The presidents of Venezuela and Colombia have met in an effort to put aside differences that have embittered ties between the neighbours. The Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez, has been meeting his Colombian counterpart, Alvaro Uribe, in an effort to mend the rift between the two men.
The two are also expected to sign a number of economic and trade accords. The two presidents have exchanged insults and accusations in a series of rows over the past eight months.
Colombia's Alvaro Uribe and Venezuela's Hugo Chavez have exchanged insults and accusations in a series of rows over the past eight months. They are meeting in the northern Venezuelan town of Punto Fijo, where they are expected to sign economic and trade accords.
Relations hit the lowest point in years in March when Colombia attacked a Farc base in Ecuador, Venezuela's ally.
Analysts say improving links will be of political and economic benefit to both.Analysts say improving links will be of political and economic benefit to both.
Bogota has accused President Chavez of funding the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (or Farc), which lost a senior leader in the raid. Relations between the two neighbours hit their lowest point in years last March, when Colombia attacked a base of the left-wing Farc rebels just over the border in Ecuador, Venezuela's ally.
Mr Chavez, who has called for the group to be taken off international lists of terrorist organisations, denies the claims, saying any contact was related to negotiations to secure the release of hostages it was holding. Bogota has accused President Chavez of funding the Farc - the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - which lost a senior leader in the raid.
He has distanced himself from Farc in recent weeks, calling on them to end their campaign of violence. Mr Chavez denies the claims, saying any contact was related to negotiations to secure the release of hostages it was holding.
He has called for the group to be taken off international lists of terrorist organisations.
However, President Chavez has distanced himself from the Farc in recent weeks, calling on them to end their campaign of violence.
InterdependentInterdependent
Before meeting Mr Uribe in the town of Punta Fijo, Mr Chavez said he would treat his Colombian counterpart as a "brother". Before meeting Mr Uribe, Hugo Chavez said he would treat his Colombian counterpart as a "brother".
We said some harsh things, [but] between brothers these things happen Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez He said the talks were aimed at a "relaunch of co-operation, peace and [the] integration of Latin America".We said some harsh things, [but] between brothers these things happen Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez He said the talks were aimed at a "relaunch of co-operation, peace and [the] integration of Latin America".
A statement from the meeting has not yet been released, but Mr Uribe was not expected to mention the Farc.A statement from the meeting has not yet been released, but Mr Uribe was not expected to mention the Farc.
The BBC's Jeremy McDermott in Colombia says that despite the political differences between their leaders, the two neighbours need to get on for their political and economic health. The BBC's Jeremy McDermott in Colombia says that despite the political differences between their leaders, the two neighbours need to get on for their mutual political and economic health.
Mr Chavez's open support for the Farc was not popular at home and he wants his supporters to do well in November's elections for the National Assembly, our correspondent says. Mr Chavez's open support for the Farc was not popular in Venezuela and he wants his supporters to do well in November's elections for the National Assembly, our correspondent says.
Mr Uribe is still basking in international praise since the Colombian army freed former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and 14 other important hostages from the guerrillas this month, he adds.Mr Uribe is still basking in international praise since the Colombian army freed former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and 14 other important hostages from the guerrillas this month, he adds.
The two presidents are expected to sign a number of accords on trade, taxes and border co-operation.The two presidents are expected to sign a number of accords on trade, taxes and border co-operation.