Colombia and Venezuela restore diplomatic relations

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and his new Colombian counterpart, Juan Manuel Santos, have agreed to restore diplomatic relations.

Mr Chavez cut ties last month after Colombia accused Venezuela of harbouring left-wing rebels. But at a meeting in the Colombian city of Santa Marta, the two leaders agreed to relaunch bilateral relations.

They admitted personal differences, but said they were putting them aside in the interest of both nations. The two leaders met in the house where Simon Bolivar - a South American independence hero and Mr Chavez's idol - died in 1830.

"We have had a frank, direct and sincere dialogue, and I think we have taken a big step in re-establishing confidence," Mr Santos said.

For his part, Mr Chavez said he had come "to turn the page." "We have to learn to live together," he said. "Our peaceful revolution in Venezuela does not represent any threat to Colombia."

The Venezuelan leader repeated his rejection of the allegations - by Mr Santos's predecessor, Alvaro Uribe - that 1,500 Colombian Farc and ELN rebels were sheltering on Venezuelan territory.