Venezuela expels US envoy

IANS  |  Caracas 

Venezuelan said on Tuesday that he had ordered the of mission at the in to leave the country within 48 hours.

Maduro made the announcement during the act in which he was proclaimed re-elected president, following Sunday's widely questioned election results which does not recognize.

The expulsion order also included the at the US Embassy, Brian Naranjo, who together with Robinson must exit within 48 hours.

"Enough with the conspiracies," said the after making the announcement before a part of his staff, who accompanied him to the seat of the (CNE) where he was to receive his credentials to remain in power until 2025.

The accused Robinson of "violating international law in the most shameless way," adding that he has the evidence to prove it and will later reveal all the facts of the conspiracy.

He said the had warned the "more than 10 times, in private, in public, in writing, verbally," but, he added, the American never stopped and kept behaving like an "active conspirator."

Robinson has been less than a year in and is the highest US in Venezuela, given that both countries have not exchanged for eight years as a result of the conflicts in diplomatic relations since the so-called Bolivarian Revolution began in the South American nation in 1999.

The US, like many countries, did not accept Maduro's victory in the recent election, which was boycotted by Venezuela's main opposition coalition.

The on Monday imposed new economic sanctions on the banning US citizens or companies from buying Venezuelan debt and the liquidation of Venezuelan assets in US territory.

In Maduro's opinion, these sanctions "offend the national dignity, do harm and cause suffering among the people."

--IANS

qd

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Wed, May 23 2018. 05:38 IST