Chile arms sale claims vex Peru

Mr Rodriguez is to meet his Chilean counterpart to discuss the issue

Relations between Chile and Peru have continued to deteriorate over claims that Chile broke an arms embargo and sold weapons to Ecuador in 1995.

At the time, Peru and Ecuador were engaged in a brief border war.

The Chilean government has cancelled a visit to Peru by its army chief and called off a planned naval visit.

Meanwhile, Peru has recalled its Foreign Minister Manuel Rodriguez from an overseas trip to Morocco to co-ordinate a response to the issue.

The diplomatic row broke out after Peru demanded that Chile conduct a full investigation of the allegations.

The Chileans say they have carried out an inquiry which found no evidence of illegal sales.

The allegations were made by a former commander-in-chief of the Ecuadorean armed forces, Victor Bayas.

Mr Bayas is being prosecuted in Ecuador over illegal purchases of Argentine weapons during the same conflict.