The Venezuelan government has turned down an request for political asylum by two Cuban doctors, but has granted them temporary visas for one year.

The doctors went to Venezuela as part of team of one-hundred Cuban medical experts to help relief efforts following the devastating floods in December.

A statement by the foreign ministry in Caracas said the visas were being granted for humanitarian reasons as the two doctors did not qualify for political asylum.

The men have said they wanted to emigrate to improve their living standards.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service