US orders Venezuelan diplomats out

(Vatican Radio) The US State Department is throwing out three Venezuelan Diplomats in retaliation for the expulsion of a trio by Venezuela.

Venezuela gave the US Charge D'Affairs and two other Diplomats 48 hours to get out. They were accused of fermenting trouble with opposition politicians and of plotting to sabotage the electricity grid. US Officials denied the accusations saying there were meetings with non-governmental groups.


Accordingly, the State Department summoned Venezuela's Charge D'Affairs announcing he and two other Diplomats are being booted out. Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro could not resist uttering Yankees go home about the US diplomats. The State Department has not followed suit, but it did declare: "It's counterproductive to the interests of both of our countries, and not a serious way for a country to conduct foreign policy."

Venezuela continues to export large quantities of oil to the United States. But hard cash aside they remain polar ideological opposites. The Venezuelan Government is also currently under severe pressure with shortages, electricity blackouts and other economic woes.

Listen to James Blears’ report: