Venezuela, Brazil mull forming Latin American version of NATO

The leaders of Venezuela and Brazil are considering the idea of creating a Latin American version of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, following Colombia's killing of a rebel in Ecuador that rattled the continent this month. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez heads to Brazil this week to discuss the potential for creating an integrated defense council for the region, a project envisioned by his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Chavez's trip, planned for Wednesday to Friday, also aims to shore up oil cooperation and advance Venezuela's membership in the South American trade bloc, Mercosur. The idea of creating a 'South American Security Council' was proposed by Brasilia after a diplomatic crisis broke out earlier this month following a raid by Colombian forces into Ecuador.