Venezuela: US has 15 days to cut 80 diplomats in Caracas

Venezuela has given the United States 15 days to dramatically reduce the number of diplomats it has in the country.

Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez said the US should decide which of its 100 diplomats should be sent home.

She said the goal was to bring the balance down to 17 – the number of Venezuelan diplomats in the US.

On February 28, President Nicolas Maduro said the US had been meddling in Venezuela’s affairs.

He said American citizens visiting Venezuela would now be required to apply for visas charged at the same rates levied on Venezuelans wishing to visit the US.

Nicolas Maduro said Venezuela would also issue a list of banned politicians who it considered to have promoted human rights abuses.

Earlier this month the US imposed visa restrictions on unnamed Venezuelan officials it accused of human rights violations and corruption.

The move builds on sanctions imposed last year on Venezuelan officials alleged to have violated the rights of protesters during demonstrations that shook the country in the first six months of 2014.

Nicolas Maduro has frequently accused the US of working with opposition groups against his government.

Earlier this year Nicolas Maduro said the US had attempted to encourage a coup that involved bombing the presidential palace. Washington rejected the accusations as ludicrous.

Venezuela and the US have not exchanged ambassadors for the last five years.

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