By Prensa Latina,
Caracas : Relations between the US and Venezuela are going downhill Friday, after denunciations of Washington’s interference to try to overthrow the constitutional governments of Bolivia and Venezuela.
After an anti-Venezuela plot was disclosed, President Hugo Chavez yesterday gave US ambassador Patrick Duddy 72 hours to leave the country.
Chavez also ordered the return of ambassador in the US Bernardo Alvarez, and accused that country of being behind the coup and assassination plots disclosed on September 10.
“I denounce to the world the US empire’s intention to prompt violence in our country. Here we have a people ready to defend peace,” the president sustained during a demonstration in front of the Miraflores Presidential Palace.
“There will be no Venezuelan ambassadors in the US until a new government respectful of Latin American peoples is set up in that country,” Chavez stated.
Venezuelan authorities also announced that retired or active officers involved in the assassination plot are being arrested or interrogated, after disclosures of recorded talks among several conspirators.
The authorities declared that the most radical opposition sector is involved, faced with a possible defeat in the November regional elections, according to latest polls.