[Published: Tuesday August 28 2018]
 Colombia to withdraw from pan-South American bloc
BOGOTA 28 Aug (ANA) - Colombian President Ivan Duque has announced his country's withdrawal from the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), a bloc set up a decade ago to counter US influence in the region.
Duque said the group acted as an accomplice to the "Venezuelan dictatorship" and said the move will be completed in six months.
His announcement follows a decision by Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Paraguay, in April to temporarily suspend their membership of the organisation.
The 12-member bloc was created in 2008 to promote regional integration.
The late Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez and other South American leaders opposed US-backed proposals for a Free Trade Area of the Americas, and instead set up UNASUR to help move their countries towards an economic and political union.
Before Colombia renounced its membership, Bolivia urged Duque to reconsider his position.
The remaining members are Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, Uruguay, Guyana and Suriname.(ANA)
FA/ANA/28 August 2018------
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