Sao Paulo  - Colombian President Alvaro Uribe on Monday congratulated his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez on his referendum victory that removed term limits on his re-election.

"First, congratulations to President Chavez, because he obtained a democratic victory. Second, congratulations to our Venezuelan brothers for practicing democracy. And third, we will hope that antagonisms are overcome in Venezuela," Uribe said.

In a speech during his visit to Sao Paulo, the conservative Uribe - who has had numerous clashes with the left-wing populist Chavez in the past - said he trusted the Venezuelan government would help its neighbour in its efforts to end the decades-old conflict with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

On Sunday, more than 54 per cent of the voters in Venezuela favoured a proposal sponsored by Chavez to allow the unlimited re- election of the president. This enables Chavez to stand for re- election in 2012.

Uribe himself favoured an amendment of the Colombian constitution in 2004, to permit him to stand for a single re-election that was previously not allowed. (dpa)