International briefs: Guyana

MEMBERS of a fledgling South American defence union should stop seeking solutions from the US and turn to their own leaders for answers, according to Ecuador's president (right).

Rafael Correa sent out the message to his neighbours at the opening of a one-day summit in Guyana of the Union of South American Nations, or Unasur, as it is known.

The event which drew leaders including Venezuela's Hugo Chavez, Argentina's Cristina Fernandez and Brazil's Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Correa said the region had looked to Washington for help for decades, but should now step back.