Venezuela To Expel German Ambassador

Venezuela says it will expel the German ambassador to the country, accusing him of meddling in internal affairs.

Daniel Kriener was among the diplomats who helped opposition leader Juan Guaidó return to Venezuela on Monday by meeting him at the airport.

Germany, which recognises Mr Guaidó as interim president, says the decision will only escalate tensions.

Meanwhile, the US says it is revoking the visas of 77 more people linked to President Nicolás Maduro.

They include government officials and their families, Vice-President Mike Pence said. On Friday, 49 other people had their visas revoked as part of the US pressure on Mr Maduro to resign.

Mr Maduro has accused Mr Guaidó of trying to mount a coup against him with the help of "US imperialists". Rallies for and against the government are due to be held on Saturday.

A government statement declared Ambassador Kriener "persona non grata" and accused him of "recurrent acts of interference in internal affairs".

Mr Kriener has been given 48 hours to leave Venezuela, German broadcaster Tagesschau reports.




Mr Guaidó had defied a travel ban and was widely expected to be arrested. But when he flew into Simón Bolivar airport in Caracas, he was let through immigration and welcomed by a group of diplomats who escorted him out of the building.

Diplomats from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, France, The Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Spain and the US were at airport to receive Mr Guaidó but so far only Mr Kriener has been targeted over this incident.


Earlier, officials from the US, the EU and a number of Latin American countries had warned the Venezuelan government not to arrest or harm Mr Guaidó.

Before Mr Guaidó's arrival, Ambassador Kriener had said he and other diplomats wanted "to help and support a safe return" for the opposition leader."

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