Venezuela threatens to expel all US envoys
5 October Iran News
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro threatened to expel all US
diplomats from the country for 'plotting to sabotage the economy' of his
country.
During a live TV appearance, Maduru said chargé d'affaires Kelly
Keiderling and two other diplomats would have 48 hours to leave the
country.
He said the diplomats had met with the "Venezuelan far-right" to
finance his opponents and "encourage actions to sabotage the power
system and the economy."
"We will not allow an imperial government to bring money and see how
they can stop basic companies and stop the electricity to turn off all
of Venezuela," Maduro said.
On Tuesday the US expelled three Venezuelan diplomats in reprisal.
The US State Department said that it had given Venezuelan chargé d'
affaires Calixto Ortega Rios and Second Secretary Monica Alejandra
Sanchez Morales at the Washington embassy and Consul Marisol Gutierrez
de Almeida at the Houston consulate 48 hours to leave the United
States.The department said it rejected allegations of US government
involvement in any conspiracy to destabilize the Venezuelan government.
On March 5, Maduro expelled two US military attaches hours before
announcing the death of President Hugo Chavez, accusing them of
promoting "destabilization projects."
Caracas and Washington have been without ambassadors since 2010, when
late President Chavez refused to accept a newly named US ambassador to
the country.
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