(Dan Tri) – The Venezuelan government has expelled the German ambassador while an American journalist may have been arrested as the crisis in the South American country tends to become tense again.
German Ambassador to Venezuela Daniel Kriener (Photo: AFP)
According to Reuters, German Ambassador to Venezuela Daniel Kriener was expelled two days after he and diplomats from other embassies in Venezuela welcomed opposition leader Juan Guaido, who declared himself interim president.
Venezuelan authorities declared the German ambassador `persona persona non grata` and gave him 48 hours to leave Venezuela.
A spokesman for the German foreign ministry confirmed information that Venezuela had expelled the country’s ambassador and said the ministry was consulting with allies on how to respond to Caracas.
Most Western countries, including Germany, recognize Juan Guaido, president of the Venezuelan parliament, as the legitimate president of the South American country, and support Guaido’s plan to form a government
On March 4, Mr. Kriener and ambassadors and diplomats from other European embassies went to Caracas airport to welcome and show support for Mr. Guaido, who once faced the threat
On the same day, the German Embassy announced on Twitter that Ambassador Kriener hopes Mr. Guaido’s return home `is a step forward for the political peace process to overcome the Venezuela crisis.`
Last week, opposition leader Juan Guaido crossed the border into Colombia, violating the supreme court’s travel ban on leaving Venezuela.
Current President Nicolas Maduro’s administration warned that Mr. Guaido could face 30 years in prison for violating the court’s embargo.
American journalist arrested
Guardian quoted an announcement from a press association in Venezuela saying that Cody Weddle, an American freelance journalist working for the Miami Herald, Daily Telegraph and ABC News, was arrested by Venezuelan authorities.
Mr. Weddle is said to have lost contact since 8 a.m. on March 6 after Venezuelan military counterintelligence agents raided the journalist’s residence in the capital Caracas.
Also according to the above source, Carlos Camacho, Mr. Weddle’s assistant and a Venezuelan citizen, was also arrested after a raid at his home yesterday morning.
Cody Weddle is the latest in a line of foreign journalists to be arrested in Venezuela.
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