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Colombia halts Chavez mediation Colombia halts Chavez mediation
(40 minutes later)
Colombia has ended the involvement of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in attempts to negotiate a prisoner swap with left-wing Colombian rebels.Colombia has ended the involvement of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in attempts to negotiate a prisoner swap with left-wing Colombian rebels.
The decision was announced two days after Colombia set Mr Chavez a deadline of 31 December to reach a deal.The decision was announced two days after Colombia set Mr Chavez a deadline of 31 December to reach a deal.
It followed a direct telephone call from Mr Chavez to the head of Colombia's army, a spokesman for Colombian President Alvaro Uribe said.
Mr Uribe had requested that Mr Chavez not speak to Colombia's generals.
Efforts 'terminated'
Mr Chavez has met leaders of the Farc rebel group, which holds dozens of hostages in the Colombian jungle.Mr Chavez has met leaders of the Farc rebel group, which holds dozens of hostages in the Colombian jungle.
He had been invited along with Colombian opposition Senator Piedad Cordoba to mediate in the hostage crisis.
But the office of Colombian President Alvaro Uribe said his facilitation efforts were now "terminated".But the office of Colombian President Alvaro Uribe said his facilitation efforts were now "terminated".
President Uribe's press secretary said the decision followed a direct call made by Mr Chavez to the head of Colombia's army, the Associated Press reported. It is not clear why Mr Uribe did not want Mr Chavez to speak directly to Colombian military chiefs.
The spokesman said Mr Chavez had defied Mr Uribe's order that he was not to speak to Colombian military leaders, AP said. The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or Farc, wants to exchange about 50 hostages it is holding in exchange for 500 prisoners in government hands.
The Farc hostages include three US contractors and French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt.