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Chavez declares U.S. ambassador persona non grata in Venezuela

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Venezuela's president has demanded the U.S. ambassador leave his country within 72 hours, escalating a diplomatic dispute between the United States and Bolivia.
MEXICO, September 12 (RIA Novosti) - Venezuela's president has demanded the U.S. ambassador leave his country within 72 hours, escalating a diplomatic dispute between the United States and Bolivia.

Earlier Thursday, Bolivian President Evo Morales expelled Washington's ambassador in La Paz, accusing him of assisting separatist movements in the country.

The United States called the step a "grave error" but responded by expelling Bolivia's ambassador in Washington.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said late Thursday that Venezuela had recalled its ambassador from the United States in an act of solidarity with its neighbor, and accused Washington of aiming to overthrow the government in La Paz.

He said Venezuela would send a new ambassador only when "there is a new government, one that respects the people of Latin America."

Chavez has been a vocal critic of Washington since coming to power nine years ago, and has threatened to suspend oil deliveries to the United States.

"Know, Yankees, that we are determined," Chavez said, calling for a mass rally against the threat of revolution.

"I call on Venezuelans to unite," he said. "There are millions of us, and they cannot do anything to us."

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