FACTBOX: Chavez, Uribe cross swords in diplomatic spat

(Reuters) - Relations between Venezuela and Colombia have soured after Colombia's Alvaro Uribe suspended efforts by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to negotiate the release of hostages held by the country's Marxist FARC guerrillas.

The two leaders have maintained a pragmatic relationship despite their political differences. But the hostage dispute has pushed tensions to their highest point since 2005, when Chavez recalled his envoy and froze some joint projects.

Here are developments in the growing diplomatic spat since Chavez started his role as mediator.

* In August Uribe invites Chavez to help mediate with the FARC over releasing hostages, including French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt and three U.S. contractor workers. The involvement of the left-winger fuels hopes he can persuade the rebels to come to the negotiating table.

* Chavez urges Uribe to demilitarize an area inside Colombia to help facilitate talks. Uribe, popular for his hard-line stance against the FARC, says he cannot yield to rebel demands to pull back troops. Chavez insists.

* In major coup for the FARC, rebel delegates meet with Chavez at Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas. Ivan Marquez, a top FARC leaders, poses with Chavez for reporters on the building steps. Marquez maintains rebel demands for a demilitarized zone the size of New York City before talks can be held.

* Chavez travels to France in early November saying the FARC has promised to hand over proof the hostages are still alive in jungle camps but he arrives in Paris empty-handed. Colombian officials and hostage families demand rebels give up evidence their relatives are alive and show progress in talks.

* Uribe abruptly calls off Chavez's mediation efforts after Chavez speaks to a top Colombian army commander without consulting the government. Uribe's government says Chavez broke with previously agreed protocol by making the call.

* Chavez's first reaction is subdued but later says he has lost trust in Uribe and the break-off would harm $6 billion in annual bilateral trade. He calls Uribe a liar and says he is "freezing" relations with Colombia. Uribe responds by accusing Chavez of siding with the FARC and seeking an "expansionist" project in Colombia.

(Reporting by Patrick Markey in Bogota; Editing by Bill Trott)