Venezuela: Brazil's Lula trying to cool Colombia dispute

[Zorro]

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said on Friday that former Brazilian leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was trying to arrange a meeting between Maduro and his Colombian counterpart to help resolve a dispute between the South American neighbours.

Last month, Maduro accused Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos of "betrayal" after Santos met Venezuelan opposition leader Henrique Capriles. Relations were often strained during the 14-year rule of Maduro's predecessor, Hugo Chavez.

Santos has dismissed as "crazy" Maduro's allegations that he had been plotting with Capriles to topple the Venezuelan leader, who narrowly won an election against Capriles in April.

"The ball's in your court, President Santos," Maduro said in a televised speech on Friday.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/venezuela-brazils-lula-trying-cool-colombia-dispute-211507846.html

[Socialistlemur]

1. Maduro over reacted

Maduro overreacted. Now they realize Venezuela needs Colombian food exports. I expect more seasoned politicians like Mujica and Lula have explained to Maduro he needs to stop behaving like a petulant teenager.