( l - r ) Chavez, Uribe

CARACAS (Reuters):

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez recalled his ambas-sador from Colombia yesterday, escalating a dispute over Bogota's suspension of the leftist leader's role in talks to free hostages held by guerrillas.

The recal tensions between the neighbours after Chavez and President Alvaro Uribe exchanged barbs over Bogota's abrupt end to Chavez's efforts to free captives, including three Americans and French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt.

"The government of the Boli-varian Republic of Venezuela, due to recent events and in order to carry out an exhaustive evaluation of bilateral relations, has recalled its ambassador from Bogota," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Monitoring situation

But Colombia said it would keep its envoy in Caracas despite Venezuela's decision.

"The Colombian government is not going to recall its ambassador in Caracas for consultations," Foreign Minister Fernando Araujo told reporters in Bogota. "We are going to keep monitoring this situation to see what happens."