Relations between Venezuela and Colombia have sunk to their lowest point for more than two years after President Hugo Chávez branded his Colombian counterpart Álvaro Uribe a “liar and a cynic”.

“I declare before the world that I’m putting relations with Colombia in the freezer. I’ve completely lost confidence with everyone in the Colombian government,” Mr Chávez said at the weekend, adding that the affair would damage economic relations between the two countries.