(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-11-22 16:34

BOGOTA - Colombia canceled the mediation effort by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez with FARC rebels to release hostages, President Alvaro Uribe said in a statement here on Wednesday.

Chavez had been invited by Colombia in August to broker a swap deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia(FARC).

Under the deal, Colombian government has to release 500 imprisoned FARC members in exchange for 45 high-profile hostages, including French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt and three US contractors.

Uribe called a halt to Chavez's mediation efforts because the Venezuelan leader directly contacted Colombia's army commander, General Mario Montoya, and asked him questions about the hostages, said the statement.

During a recent meeting in Chile, Uribe warned Chavez not to contact Montoya directly on the issue, the statement said.