Kirchner, Lula and Chávez suspend summit

A summit between the presidents of Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela Néstor Kirchner, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Hugo Chávez, respectively, scheduled for this month has been suspended because of "agenda problems," official sources told Efe.

During the meeting, scheduled for March 11th in the Argentine town of Mendoza, the rulers were to assess progress made in connection with an 8,000 km southern gas pipeline linking the three countries.

Argentine Foreign Affairs minister Jorge Taiana told reporters on Friday that the meeting was adjourned "because President Hugo Chávez has to be in his country to attend the commemoration of the national Flag Day (on March 12th.)"

He added that the summit would be held "later in March or next month."