Venezuela, Guyana Agree Not To 'Use Force' To Settle Land Dispute

Essequibo residents reject a claim from Caracas that their land belongs to Venezuela, which has sparked fears of a potential conflict (Credit: AFP)

The presidents of Venezuela and Guyana pledged after direct talks on Thursday not to resort to force to settle a long-simmering -- and recently reheated -- territorial dispute over the oil-rich Essequibo region, a joint statement said.

Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro and Guyana's Irfaan Ali shook hands after a two-hour meeting on the Caribbean island nation of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.