Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

World

Venezuela expels Ecuador diplomat in tit-for-tat move

-

Venezuela on Thursday ordered Ecuador's top diplomat in Caracas to leave the country, hours after Quito expelled Venezuela's ambassador over "offensive" comments about its president.

Venezuela said it was "forced to take reciprocal action against the Charge d'Affaires of Ecuador in Venezuela, Elizabeth Mendez, who is declared a persona non-grata and has 72 hours to leave the country."

The move follows Ecuador's expulsion of Venezuelan ambassador Carol Delgado earlier Thursday for "offensive" comments against President Lenin Moreno by a Venezuelan government minister.

Communication and information minister Jorge Rodriguez had accused Moreno of lying about the number of Venezuelans that have arrived in Ecuador after fleeing the economic meltdown in their homeland.

"I listened stupefied to a president on this continent because I couldn't believe he could be such a liar," Rodriguez said on Wednesday, referring to the claim that "6,000 unwell Venezuelans a day are entering Ecuador."

Ecuador said it "will not tolerate any demonstration of disrespect towards our authorities," adding however that it would continue to offer help to Venezuelans entering the country.

Venezuela on Thursday ordered Ecuador’s top diplomat in Caracas to leave the country, hours after Quito expelled Venezuela’s ambassador over “offensive” comments about its president.

Venezuela said it was “forced to take reciprocal action against the Charge d’Affaires of Ecuador in Venezuela, Elizabeth Mendez, who is declared a persona non-grata and has 72 hours to leave the country.”

The move follows Ecuador’s expulsion of Venezuelan ambassador Carol Delgado earlier Thursday for “offensive” comments against President Lenin Moreno by a Venezuelan government minister.

Communication and information minister Jorge Rodriguez had accused Moreno of lying about the number of Venezuelans that have arrived in Ecuador after fleeing the economic meltdown in their homeland.

“I listened stupefied to a president on this continent because I couldn’t believe he could be such a liar,” Rodriguez said on Wednesday, referring to the claim that “6,000 unwell Venezuelans a day are entering Ecuador.”

Ecuador said it “will not tolerate any demonstration of disrespect towards our authorities,” adding however that it would continue to offer help to Venezuelans entering the country.

AFP
Written By

With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives.

You may also like:

Social Media

Wanna buy some ignorance? You’re in luck.

Tech & Science

Under new legislation that passed the House of Representatives last week, TikTok could be banned in the United States.

Life

Platforms like Instagram and Pinterest often suggest travel destinations based on your likes and viewing habits.

Social Media

From vampires and wendigos to killer asteroids, TikTok users are pumping out outlandish end-of-the-world conspiracy theories.