Brazil, Venezuela reach deal after diplomatic ruptures following contested election

CARACAS (Reuters) - Brazil announced a diplomatic agreement on Monday that will allow it to represent the interests of Argentina and Peru in Caracas, after Venezuela severed ties with the two nations following its contested presidential vote.

Brazil's government, like Colombia and Mexico, has called for the release of full voting results following Venezuela's July 28 election. But Venezuela's electoral authorities have so far failed to do so while the country's electoral authority has proclaimed that President Nicolas Maduro won reelection to a third term.

Venezuela ejected diplomats from both Argentina and Peru late last week, after their governments recognized opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez as the election winner.

Under the deal between Brazil and Venezuela, which takes effect from Monday, Brazil's embassy in Caracas is given custody over the diplomatic offices belonging to Argentina and Peru in Venezuela, including properties and files, according to a joint statement.

A Brazilian official told Reuters last week that Brazil will play the role of mediator on issues pertaining to Argentina and Peru regarding their citizens in Venezuela.

In addition to Argentina and Peru, diplomats representing Chile, Uruguay, Panama, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic have also left Venezuela, after those governments also recognized Gonzalez as the winner.

(Reporting by Vivian Sequera; Editing by David Alire Garcia and Leslie Adler)