WASHINGTON – The US has expelled three Venezuelan diplomats, in response to the expulsion of three of its own consular officials from Caracas.
Just over a week ago, Venezuela had accused the expelled Americans of having links with violent groups.
President Obama said the claims were baseless and false.
At least 13 people have been killed during weeks of protests in Venezuela, although the opposition puts the number of dead at 15.
The US State Department said Ignacio Luis Cajal Avalos, Victor Manuel Pisani Azpurua, and Marcos Jose Garcia Figueredo were considered “personae non-gratae” and had 48 hours to leave the country.
On 16 February, Venezuela said it was expelling three US diplomats for allegedly meeting students who had been involved in violent marches.
But the US State Department soon rejected the accusations in an official press statement, followed by remarks by the President, Barack Obama.
He told reporters after a meeting in Mexico that Venezuela had been “making up false accusations” and that the government of President Nicolas Maduro should focus on the “legitimate grievances of the Venezuelan people.”
Consular officials Breann Marie McCusker, Jeffrey Gordon Elsen and Kristopher Lee Clark were accused of meeting students in private universities.
