Venezuela gov’t expels Panama envoy, diplomats

The Venezuelan government has ordered Panama’s ambassador and three other diplomats to leave the country, Panama’s Deputy Foreign Minister says.

Mayra Arosemena told reporters on Thursday that Venezuela demanded the four Panamanian diplomats, including ambassador Pedro Pereira, the charge d’affaires Jamie Serrano and two other officials of the embassy, to leave the country within 48 hours.

“We received a note from the foreign ministry of Venezuela that was delivered to our embassy in which it declared four diplomats working in our embassy as ‘persona non grata,’” Arosemena said.

“We have recalled our staff today and they are travelling (to Panama) tomorrow,” she added.

The order comes a day after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced that he is cutting ties with Panama because it had joined the United States in plotting against Maduro’s government.

“We’re not going to let anyone get away with interfering with our fatherland, you despicable lackey, president of Panama,” Maduro said on Wednesday.

The diplomatic spat between the two countries came after Panama City called for a discussion on recent anti-government protests in Venezuela at the Washington-based Organization of American States (OAS).

Venezuela has witnessed violent pro- and anti-government demonstrations since February 12.

The opposition has criticized the Maduro administration for the country’s high crime rate and economic hardships, claiming that the government policies have led to a shortage of essential goods and high inflation.

Maduro, however, says the opposition seeks to launch a coup d’état in the South American country with the backing of Washington.

The unrest has led to the deaths of at least 19 people and injured over 260 others.