Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez threatened Friday to interrupt oil exports to the United States if violence breaks out after a controversial and hotly contested weekend referendum.

Confronted Colombia and Venezuela presidents Alvaro Uribe and Hugo Chavez will have to act politely on Friday if they cross each other during the official inauguration of Ecuador's constitutional assembly seated in Ciudad Alfaro, 500 kilometers from the capital Quito.

Headlines:
Goodbye Explorer; Two for By-Election; Howatt to bow out in 2008; Drug arrests.

Colombia hasn't received an official statement from Venezuela on diplomatic relations between the two nations and will act with prudence and discretion, Colombian Foreign Minister Fernando Araujo said on Thursday.

Meg Munn, British Foreign Office Minister for the Overseas Territories, plans to visit the Falkland Islands on 3-5 January 2008. Falklands' Governor Alan Huckle will be drawing up a wide-ranging programme for her in consultation with elected members, according to a release from Government House.

United Nations High Commissioner Louise Arbour is expected to address conditions in Brazil's prison system and the Government's efforts to promote and protect human rights during her first visit to the country next week.

Ecuador's Constitutional assembly meeting in Montecristi, 500 kilometers from the capital Quito, was officially inaugurated Friday by President Rafael Correa amidst warnings from the opposition that democracy in the country was at risk.

Colombian officials have shown videos and photos seized from captured rebels of 16 high-profile hostages, the first sign of life since 2003. The five tapes include French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt and three US nationals.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez broke off relations with Colombia on Wednesday, vowing not to restore ties as long as President Alvaro Uribe is in power after the collapse of mediation talks with leftist rebels.

Guyana has offered to preserve its entire rain forest with control going to a British-led international group in return for economic aid.