The President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, accused the United States government of conspiring with the student protest against him, declaring three American diplomats to be Personae Non Gratae and ordering their immediate exit from the country.
"I have ordered the Chancellor to proceed with declaring personae non gratae and expelling three consulate officials from the United States Embassy (...) we have been seeing them in private meetings in universities for two months," said Maduro, according to Reuters.
"In statements made on the state TV network, VTV, Maduro said that the United States government asked him to dialogue with the opposition to put an end to violence in Venezuela; however, and just like the late Hugo Chávez, the Venezuelan President said that he "doesn't accept threats from anyone in this world" and showing images from the protests, added: "Here you go, Obama! This is the result of your actions, the fascists!"
After five days of protests in the main cities of Venezuela, President Maduro ordered the arrest of the opposition leader, Leopoldo López, who he blamed of the massive movements that condemn the policies adopted by his government.
Through a press release emitted last Sunday, Leopoldo López said that he would surrender to the authorities. In a video, the opposition leader described the arrest order against him for terrorism and homicide charges as an "infamous persecution"; he took the opportunity to ask the people of Venezuela to protest on Tuesday, Feb. 18.
"If there is any decision to illegally jail me, then I'll be there to assume that decision and that infamous persecution by the state," said the economist with a Harvard degree, reported Reuters.
López' statements came shortly before the government of Nicolás Maduro ordered an operation in the early morning of Sunday, Feb. 16 in which military units raided the politician's home with an arrest warrant, a document that says he is responsible for the protests that have killed three and left dozens injured and arrested, most of them students.
Despites threats and repression acts, the students said that they would continue to protest in Venezuela's main cities, asking citizens to take to the streets against President Maduro's administration, who since last April has adopted greater repression measures that have led the country to one of its worst economic crises, shortages and insecurity levels.