MIAMI (AP) -- Relatives of former Venezuelan President Carlos Andres Perez have agreed that he will be buried in Venezuela, ending a bitter family feud, their attorneys said Wednesday.

A joint statement by attorneys for both sides said Perez's remains will return to Venezuela for burial as soon as the proper arrangements are made. The feuding sides were Perez's estranged wife Blanca Rodriguez de Perez and her family against Cecilia Beatriz Matos Molero and her daughters, Maria Francia Perez-Matos and Cecilia Victoria Perez-Matos.

They agreed it is in the best interests of the families and of Perez's legacy to end the months-long litigation.

Perez was Venezuela's president from 1974-79 and 1989-93 and died in Miami in December at age 88.

The agreement came after weeks of closed-door negotiations and avoided a contentious trial that had been scheduled to begin earlier this month but was delayed while talks between the sides continued.

The struggle began when Perez's estranged wife claimed she had the right to take his body home to Venezuela. Matos, Perez's longtime companion in Miami, insisted he would never return with political arch-foe Hugo Chavez as president.

Perez left no written burial instructions. His body has been in a temporary crypt during the dispute.

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