The presidents of Brazil and Venezuela met on Monday to inaugurate a highway linking the Brazilian Amazon with Venezuela's Caribbean coast.

The highway, from Manaus on the Amazon to Santa Elena de Uairen in Venezuela, is the only asphalted road between the two neighbouring countries.

Its construction has caused protests from local indigenous people and environmentalists, who say that the road will lead to settlers moving in to the region, and furtherdestruction of the rainforest.