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U.S.
Authorizes “Voluntary” Departure of Diplomats in Venezuela
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| Chavez was
always a thorn in the side for the U.S.
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WASHINGTON,
April 17 (News Agencies & IslamOnline) - The United States on
Tuesday, April 16, authorized the voluntary departure of all
non-essential diplomats and their dependents from Venezuela, amid
fears of renewed political violence.
In
a travel warning, the State Department also warned Americans to avoid
traveling to the country, which it said was plagued with a
"volatile and unpredictable" security situation.
Political
violence erupted in Venezuela as President Hugo Chavez was ousted in a
two-day coup over the weekend, though department officials noted that
it had abated in recent days.
The
U.S. weekly Newsweek magazine had reported Monday, April 15, that the
Venezuelan military officers, who unsuccessfully tried to topple
President Hugo Chavez last week, were in contact with the U.S. embassy
in Caracas less than two months ago.
The
report cited Bush administration sources as saying that dissident
Venezuelan military officers had informed embassy officials about
planning a coup in late February, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).
According
to Newsweek, Chavez was widely seen in Washington as a hostile figure
whose erratic leadership threatened U.S. oil supplies as well as
efforts to crack down on guerrilla forces tied to drug trafficking and
terrorism in neighboring Colombia.
The
travel warning states that "The Department of State warns
American citizens against travel to Venezuela due to the unstable
security situation."
"The
Department has authorized the voluntary departure from Venezuela of
embassy personnel in non-emergency positions and family members of
U.S. Government personnel."
"U.S.
citizens in Venezuela should consider their own personal security
situations and take those measures they deem appropriate to ensure
their well-being, including considering departure from the
country."
The
voluntary departure of diplomats allows individual U.S. envoys to make
their own decisions on whether to leave or remain in the country, and
falls short of a mandatory withdrawal of personnel.
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