Trading bloc dispute

URUGUAYAN officials have opposed efforts by the right-wing governments of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay to suspend socialist Venezuela from the continental trading bloc, Mercosur.

Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez has agreed to meet the Venezuelan head of state, Nicolas Maduro, to discuss the suspension.

Maduro asked for the meeting on Saturday, after receiving official notice from Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay – three of the bloc’s four founding members – of its suspension the day before.

The three countries, led by rightwing governments and dubbed by Venezuelan officials the “Triple Alliance”, claimed that Venezuela had not fulfilled its membership requirements. Uruguay, the fourth founding member, abstained from the vote.