Venezuela declares state of emergency

The Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez, has declared a state of emergency in several northern states affected by heavy rain.

Mr Chavez cancelled an overseas trip to deal with the threat of more flash floods, which have killed two people in the last few days.

Appealing for calm, Mr Chavez said the situation was under control and extra shelters were being set up to provide refuge for several thousand people who had been evacuated from their homes, mainly in the Venezuelan coastal state of Vargas.

Correspondents say the rain has revived memories of mudslides and floods a year ago which devastated Vargas, killing several thousand people.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service