Leaders agree to support wider free trade zone

MONTERREY, Mexico -- Leaders from 34 American nations agreed Tuesday to support a hemisphere-wide trade area without setting a firm deadline, a concession to Brazil and Venezuela.

The United States had sought a 2005 deadline for the Free Trade Area of the Americas in the summit's final declaration.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez pushed for a humanitarian fund that could be used to help countries during financial and natural disasters, but said he would sign the document, with reservations, while the fund was being considered.

The draft mentions that leaders will consider Chavez's proposal for an international humanitarian fund.

In addition, the document does not call for banning corrupt governments from future summits, as the United States had requested. Instead, it says nations will hold discussions on corrupt states.