A United States official has had a two-hour meeting in Caracas with the Venezualan president-elect, Hugo Chavez, amid indications of improving relations between the two countries.

The State Department official, Peter Romero, said Washington would support the new government's attempt to introduce reforms as long as it respected the constitution.

At the same time, the United States has lifted the ban on Mr Chavez entering the country imposed because of his involvement in a coup attempt in 1992.