Chavez Threatens to Boot US Diplomat Over Vote 'Plot'

US accused of plotting against Chavez
By Peter Fearon,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 29, 2007 3:54 AM CST
Chavez Threatens to Boot US Diplomat Over Vote 'Plot'
Venezuelan National Guard soldiers fire tear gas and rubber bullets at students, unseen, outside the Metropolitan University in Caracas, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2007, as the students protest against constitutional reforms proposed by Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez. Venezuelans will vote on the changes...   (Associated Press)

Venezuela threatened to expel a US diplomat for allegedly plotting against President Hugo Chavez' plan to run for re-election indefinitely. It's the latest headline-grabbing move by Chavez before a referendum on changes to the nation's constitution. Chavez has also accused CNN of encouraging an assassination plot against him, and has set a date to launch Venezuela's own time zone.

Venezuela's foreign minister claims to have uncovered a document outlining a US plot to undermine Sunday's referendum expanding Chavez' powers. "If it's true, we are going to declare this official from the US Embassy persona non grata and eject him from the country," said the minister. (More Venezuela stories.)

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