Diplomatic dispute between US & Venezuela

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Source: CCTV.com | 09-13-2008 10:37

A diplomatic dispute between the United States, Venezuela and Bolivia continues to escalate, after Washington announced the expulsion of the Venezuelan ambassador.

A day after Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez expelled the US ambassador in Caracas, the United States followed suit.

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez (L) greets new U.S.  ambassador to Venezuela, Patrick Duddy, at the Miraflores  Palace in Caracas in this October 29, 2007 file photo.  Chavez on September 11, 2008 gave the U.S. ambassador 72  hours to leave the oil-rich South American country,  saying the measure was a show of support for Bolivia. (Miraflores Palace/Handout/Files/Reuters)

US State Department's spokesman Sean McCormack says, "We have informed the Venezuelan ambassador to the United States that he will be expelled and that he should leave the United States. I believe that President Chavez last night said he was recalling him. "