The United States has revoked the visa of the Venezuelan ambassador to Washington in retaliation for Venezuela's rejection of the Obama administration's choice for new U.S. envoy to Caracas.
The move, disclosed December 29, effectively expels envoy Bernardo Alvarez Herrera from the United States.
The State Department is quoted as saying the U.S. government had taken what it called "appropriate, proportional and reciprocal action" in response to Venezuela's rejection of the Obama administration's choice for new U.S. ambassador to Caracas, Larry Palmer.
Palmer had angered Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez by suggesting during his confirmation process that morale is low in Venezuela's military, and that he is concerned that leftist Colombian rebels have been finding shelter in Venezuela.
Earlier this week, Chavez, who is a frequent critic of U.S. policies, had challenged the United States to cut diplomatic ties with Venezuela in response to Chavez's rejection of the U.S. envoy.
compiled from agency reports