US expels 3 Venezuelan diplomats

WASHINGTON—The United States has expelled three Venezuelan diplomats in response to similar action against three US consular officials in Caracas.

Venezuelan envoys First Secretary Ignacio Luis Cajal Avalos, First Secretary Victor Manuel Pisani Azpurua and Second Secretary Marcos Jose Garcia Figueredo, were given 48 hours to leave the US, State Department spokesper- son Jen Psaki said on Tuesday.

Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro expelled three US diplomats from Caracas on Feb. 17, saying they were supporting opposition plots to overthrow him.

White House spokesperson Jay Carney took offense and said what is happening in Venezuela is an issue between Maduro and his people, not between Venezuela and the US.

“President Maduro needs to focus on addressing the legitimate grievances of the Venezuelan people through meaningful dialogue with them, not through dialogue with the US,” Carney said. “Despite what the Venezuelan government would like to lead people to believe, this is not a US-Venezuela issue. It is an issue between Venezuela and its people.”

“We’ve been clear all along that the future of Venezuela is for the Venezuelan people to decide,” Carney said.

The State Department’s Psaki cited US concerns about Venezuela’s record on human rights and support for democracy, but said Washington remains open to a diplomatic relationship with Maduro. The two countries have not exchanged ambassadors since 2010.