Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou spoke at a regional summit in Brasilia. He said he was "surprised" by the "narratives" about human rights in Venezuela.
The meeting was also attended by the presidents of Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Suriname. Lula has proposed a new "roadmap for the integration of South America" to be drawn up in the next 120 days. He also said the region should no longer wait for the end of colonialism to achieve unity.