‘¡Adios, Ambassador!’ Say Chavez and Morales

Two Latin American leaders, Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez and Bolivia’s Evo Morales, expelled the U.S. ambassadors to their nations after claiming that the American embassies in both countries were supporting rebel groups aimed at toppling their governments. Salvador Allende and Jacobo Arbenz were unavailable for comment.

The New York Times:

President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela said Thursday that he was expelling the American ambassador, Patrick Duddy, giving him 72 hours to leave the country. Mr. Chávez took this step after he said his government had discovered an American-supported plot by military officers to topple him.

He also recalled his ambassador to Washington, Bernardo Álvarez, and explained his decision by expressing solidarity with Bolivia’s embattled president, Evo Morales, who on Wednesday expelled the American ambassador there, Philip S. Goldberg, accusing him of supporting rebellious groups in eastern Bolivia..

“When there is a new government in the United States, we’ll send an ambassador,” Mr. Chávez said, using an expletive to refer to Americans.

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Morales, left, and Chavez have expelled the U.S. ambassadors from their countries. Chavez says he will re-establish diplomatic relations when the new U.S. administration comes to power.