Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro ordered the expelling of three American officials accused of promoting economic and electrical sabotage in Venezuela.
According to information published by Mexican newspaper Milenio, Kelly Keiderling, the charge d'affaires of the United States in Caracas, and officials Elizabeth Hunderland and David Mutt must leave Venezuela immediately in the face of President Maduro's accusations.
"I order Chancellor Elías Jaua to proceed with the expelling from the country. Kelly Keiderling, Elizabeth Hunderland and David Mutt have 48 hours to leave the country. Yankees go home, fuera de Venezuela!" declared Maduro in a strong speech, quoted by the Mexican newspaper.
According to Milenio's information, Maduro's accusations allege meetings with "the Venezuelan far-right", to "finance and promote actions to sabotage the electrical system and the economy of the country".
U.S. Government Denies Accusations
On their part, the United States Department of State categorically denied the accusations presented by Venezuela's president.
According to El Nuevo Herald on its website, a spokesperson for said institution, who requested to remain anonymous since they do not have authorization to speak publicly, told the newspaper that "we completely reject the accusations of the Venezuelan government that the American government is involved in any kind of conspiracy to destabilize the Venezuelan government."
However, the Venezuelan government's decision seems irrevocable, and on Monday, Chancellor Elías Jaua announced that the government sent the U.S. Embassy in Caracas an official note informing them of the expelling of the American diplomats.
"We have detected and have followed for many months, a group of diplomats from the American Embassy in Caracas, Venezuela. These diplomats regularly meet with the Venezuelan far-right, to finance and support them to take actions to sabotage the electrical system, to sabotage the Venezuelan economy", a furious Maduro told El Nuevo Herald.