PERU/VENEZUELA: President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela says his government cannot have ties with Peru while president-elect Alan Garcia is in office.
Relations between Caracas and Lima reached crisis point earlier this year after Mr Chavez and Mr Garcia clashed over free trade ties with the United States and Mr Chavez's support for a rival candidate in Peru's recent elections. They have not improved since.
"He has attacked Venezuela and the Venezuelan people in an irresponsible manner . . . and now what does he want? That I offer him my hand, no," Mr Chavez said on Thursday.
"While Alan Garcia is Peru's president and I am the president of Venezuela, quite honestly, we cannot have relations with such an irresponsible government, with such an irresponsible president, no way," he said.
The row has underscored divisions in Latin America over trade relations with Washington.
Mr Chavez, an ally of Cuba, says his ideas of integration and socialist revolution for the poor offer an alternative to US-backed deals. Washington says he threatens stability in the region.
Venezuela is a key supplier to the US oil market, but has signed numerous energy deals with Latin-American neighbours.