Chavez fears Santos could be US 'pawn'

The government of President Hugo Chavez fears Colombia’s president-elect could end up doing Washington’s bidding by conspiring against its neighbour, Venezuela’s top diplomat says.

Foreign minister Nicolas Maduro expressed doubts that Venezuela’s relations with Colombia could improve after conservative Juan Manuel Santos was sworn in as president and accused Colombia’s outgoing leader Alvaro Uribe of attempting to influence his successor to ensure relations remained rocky.

Earlier Mr Uribe said he hoped to make a last-ditch effort to improve ties between Bogota and Caracas.