CARACAS, Venezuela, Dec. 5 (UPI) -- The Venezuelan government has seized control of three more banks that allegedly violated financial rules, officials say.

LIMA, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Peru, apparently undeterred by rejection of earlier proposals seeking to contain an arms race in Latin America, has proposed the creation of a South American peace force to avert a regional conflict amid rising tensions and increased arms buying.

PRINCETON, N.J., Nov. 24 (UPI) -- Colombians have a more negative view of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez than Venezuelans do of Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, a poll released Tuesday said.

CARACAS, Venezuela, Nov. 24 (UPI) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is deploying 300 newly bought Russian tanks and armored vehicles and has called on Venezuelans to join Bolivarian militia in a marked military buildup seen as a continuation of his rhetoric the country is on a war footing and faces a threat from Colombian-U.S. military bases.

BUENOS AIRES, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- Israel is seeking to check Iranian diplomatic and trade advances in South America, a region where it has enjoyed sympathy and support since its founding, but a fuller picture of shifting alliances must also take into account recent advances by China and Russia, analysts said Thursday.

CARACAS, Venezuela, Nov. 19 (UPI) -- U.S. assurances that its military operations in Colombia are not part of a wider agenda on Latin American domination have left Venezuela unmoved as Caracas struggles to balance a domestic power crisis with a strident populist foreign policy.

CARACAS, Venezuela, Nov. 16 (UPI) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is planning to enlist Cuban help with an ambitious cloud-seeding operation in the hope of inducing rain to ease drought in the country.

CARACAS, Venezuela, Nov. 16 (UPI) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez criticized Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe over a new agreement that will give the U.S. military access to Colombian bases.

CARACAS, Venezuela, Nov. 16 (UPI) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has asked Cuba to help ease his country's drought with a cloud-seeding program.