More details...
Chavez Threatens to Expel U.S. Ambassador
Apr 9, 4:18 PM (ET)
By NATALIE OBIKO PEARSON
(AP) In this picture released by the Justice Ministry, Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez holds a palm...
Full Image
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said the U.S. ambassador was "provoking the Venezuelan people" and threatened Sunday to expel the American diplomat, whose convoy was chased by pro-government protesters.
"I'm going to throw you out of Venezuela if you continue provoking the Venezuelan people," Chavez said in a nationally televised speech addressed to U.S. Ambassador William Brownfield.
Venezuela's acting foreign minister on Saturday condemned the crowd of protesters for pelting Brownfield's car with eggs and tomatoes, but suggested that Brownfield is partially responsible for failing to advise authorities of his travel plans in order to avert such problems.
Chavez's more incendiary comments came after Washington warned of "severe diplomatic consequence" if a similar incident repeats itself.
"If the Washington government takes some measure against Venezuela motivated by provocations, you will be responsible, you will have to leave here, sir. I will declare you persona non grata in Venezuela," Chavez responded Sunday.
Chavez accused Washington of seeking to escalate tensions and "looking for another incident."
Chavez said Brownfield was partially responsible for the incident for failing to advise the local mayor's office or the foreign ministry of his travel plans.
The U.S. embassy in Caracas had no immediate response to the president's comments.
Brownfield had visited a ballpark in Caracas' Catia slums, a Chavez stronghold, to donate baseball equipment to a youth league.
The response to his visit Friday was the third time in three weeks that Brownfield has been met by protests. Earlier, demonstrators burned tires and torched an American flag.
The State Department said the incident Friday "clearly was condoned by the local government," with local officials handing out snacks to perpetrators at the stadium. U.S. officials accused police of doing nothing, saying a single city police car stayed well behind the convoy while motorcyclists pounded and kicked the ambassador's car.
The Caracas mayor's office denied involvement,
Chavez says the United States of plotting against him, an accusation American officials deny. The United States, however, has said Chavez is stifling democracy.
tell you what...
If you have a link to that, hit the Abuse button at the time and have the mods link that to this thread if you could please?
That Yankee bastard, how dare him!
Full article on post 83, ping.