A document, apparently released by accident to journalists in Brasilia, has cast doubt on the outcome of Mondays's talks there between the presidents of Peru and Ecuador.

The Brazilian government document said the talks, aimed at resolving the border dispute between Peru and Ecuador, had reached an impasse.

But the president of Brazil, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, said, after the document was abrubtly withdrawn, that it should not have been made public and was not authorized.

Both the Peruvian and Ecuardoran leaders said they would continue talks and that they were committed to signing a treaty.