Paraguay recalls ambassador to Venezuela

Paraguay opted on Wednesday to recall its ambassador to Venezuela and declared the Venezuelan chief of mission persona non grata in an escalation of mutual accusations in the aftermath of the removal of President Fernando Lugo.

"In the face of the serious evidence of meddling by officials of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in the internal affairs of the Republic of Paraguay, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hereby advises that it has resolved to recall its ambassador," the Paraguayan Foreign Ministry stated in a press release.

Reference was made to the order given to Ambassador Augusto Ocampos to leave Caracas, AP noted.

Earlier, last week, Venezuelan ambassador to Asunción José F. Javier Arrúe De Pablo had been recalled.  He was declared persona non grata. "As he is not in the country presently, there is no need to set a deadline for him to leave."

The standoff between Paraguay and Venezuela started when Lugo was dismissed on June 22 by the Senate in a speedy political trial for poor performance.