Americas rivals see signs of hope

A summit of Latin American and Caribbean leaders has ended with no agreement on a joint declaration.Regional heads of state had talks over three days, but several remained in dispute with US on issues including Cuba's exclusion from the summit.US President Barack Obama said he saw positive signs from Cuba and Venezuela, and that the summit marked a new start in US relations with its neighbours.The leaders of Brazil and Venezuela also said they hoped for better ties.Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva agreed he saw "potential positive signs" between the US and Cuba and Venezuela.Communist Cuba has been subject to a US embargo since 1960, while Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez was an implacable foe of former US President George W Bush.