Western Hemisphere
The Venezuelan government decided on Monday night to immediately recall its ambassador in Lima, Peru, in protest at the political asylum granted by the Peruvian government to Venezuelan opposition leader Manuel Rosales.

The Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE) issued an official statement, which emphasizes that Venezuela requested "through regular channels, an international arrest warrant for fugitive from Venezuelan justice Manuel Rosales, accused of crimes related to corruption and illicit enrichment. This led to the immediate release of Interpol's Red Notice."

According to the text, Peru requested the Venezuelan authorities the necessary documentation to detain Manuel Rosales, "which was delivered on time last Sunday April 26th."

Venezuela's Foreign Ministry considers, however, that "the Government of Peru decided to grant political asylum to Manuel Rosales, in a decision that constitutes a mockery of international law."

The document points out that the government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has resolved, in protest, the immediate return to Caracas of its ambassador to Lima, (Armando Laguna Laguna), the suspension of the proceedings leading to the transfer of the newly appointed ambassador (Arístides Medina Rubio) to the government of Peru and to initiate an evaluation phase of its relationship with the Peruvian Government."