Americas agree to support 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.\nThe United States had sought a 2005 deadline for the Free Trade Area of the Americas in the summit's final declaration.\nVenezuelan President Hugo Chavez instead 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.\nThe draft mentions leaders will consider Chavez's proposal for an international humanitarian fund.\nIn 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.