Venezuela threats to expel U.S. ambassador

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez has condemned last week's attack on United States ambassador William Brownfield, but warns he will be expelled if he continues to provoke people.

Chavez said on his Sunday television and radio show Alo Presidente that the U.S. ambassador should stop provoking and intervening in Venezuela or pack his bags, adding that he risked being declared a persona non grata.

Pro-government supporters lobbed eggs, fruit and vegetables at Brownfield on Friday during his visit to a western Caracas sports center to deliver donated baseball equipment. Chavez said Brownfield provoked the incident because he did not consult the government in advance about the trip to the shantytown.

After Friday's incident, Washington said there would be "severe diplomatic consequences" if Venezuela did not protect the U.S. envoy.

U.S.-Venezuela relations have deteriorated in the last 18 months, with Chavez saying that the U.S. is planning an invasion of his country, while the U.S. says Chavez is destabilizing the region.

Source: Xinhua