Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez wants Colombia to withdraw its consul
in Maracaibo, because of the diplomat’s alleged involvement in
anti-government plans.
If Colombia won’t voluntarily withdraw consul Carlos Galvis Fajardo he will be expelled, the Venezuelan Head of State warned.
“The only way I will not expel the consul general of the Colombian government is if they immediately withdraw him. If not, I will expel him. I hope the Colombian Government takes its decisions,” Chávez said Sunday during his weekly television and radio broadcast.
Chávez decided to demand the withdrawal after Venezuelan security intercepted a telephone call between Fajardo and Colombian presidential adviser Jose Obdulio Gaviria. In the conversation Galvis allegedly welcomes the recent victory of the Venezuelan opposition in local and regional elections and says he will make a call to the elected opposition governors and to activate “some plans”, Chávez said.
Venezuela’s opposition won the election in a number of key states in Venezuela last week. They are now in control of five of the 22 states of Colombia’s eastern neighbor.