Uribe and Chavez hail 'new era'

President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela and his Colombian counterpart Alvaro Uribe say they want to promote closer ties, after months of political tension.

Speaking after a one-day meeting in Venezuela, Mr Chavez said that a new era of co-operation was dawning.

For his part, Mr Uribe said the two countries could resolve their disputes.

Relations hit their lowest point in March, when Mr Chavez sent troops to the border following a Colombian raid against a rebel camp inside Ecuador.

Analysts say improving links will be of political and economic benefit to both.

Although the two countries are major trading partners, relations have suffered because their two leaders come from opposite ends of the political spectrum.

Mr Uribe is a right-winger who is a close ally of the United States, while socialist Mr Chavez regularly denounces Washington and has allied himself with Cuba.

The two men also differed sharply over Colombia's Farc rebel group, with Mr Uribe seeking military action against it, while Mr Chavez gave them some ideological support.

But the freeing of 15 high-profile Farc hostages - including former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt - by the Colombian army last week has strengthened Mr Uribe's position, correspondents say.

'Turn the page'

Before meeting Mr Uribe in the northern Venezuelan town of Punto Fijo, Hugo Chavez said he would treat his Colombian counterpart as a "brother".

After their talks, Mr Chavez said: "As of now, a new era begins with Colombia."

"We can completely turn the page on a stormy past."