Argentina and Brazil agree to mediate in Venezuela crisis

Brazil's acting foreign minister says his country will work with Argentina to help find a solution to Venezuela's political crisis.

Venezuela is facing a severe economic crisis, with the world's highest inflation and shortages. Polls indicate most Venezuelans want President Nicolas Maduro out of office.

Brazilian Foreign Minister Jose Serra met with Argentine President Mauricio Macri yesterday. It was Serra's first state visit since being appointed after Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff was suspended pending an impeachment trial.

Economic ties between South America's two largest economies have been hit by Brazil's worst recession in decades.

Both countries agreed yesterday to search for mechanisms that can help secure trade deals independently rather than through the Mercosur trade bloc as they had been doing.