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Ambassador recalled in Spain-Venezuela argument

The two countries have been arguing over alleged meddling by Spain.

By Ed Adamczyk
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy Brey. Spain recalled its ambassador to Venezuela on Wednesday, April 22, 2015, after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro accused Spain of supporting terrorism. Maduro claims Brey was part of a conspiracy to overthrow the Venezuelan government.
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy Brey. Spain recalled its ambassador to Venezuela on Wednesday, April 22, 2015, after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro accused Spain of supporting terrorism. Maduro claims Brey was part of a conspiracy to overthrow the Venezuelan government. | License Photo

MADRID, April 22 (UPI) -- Spain recalled its ambassador to Venezuela Wednesday after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro accused Spain of supporting terrorism.

After Maduro claimed Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy was among a "group of corrupt (officials), bandits and thieves" and part of "an international conspiracy to overthrow" the Venezuelan government, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo said, "Given the level of verbal irritation that I have seen from President Maduro, I have decided to recall our ambassador to Caracas for consultation. The adjectives used by the authorities -- never by the Venezuelan people -- are absolutely intolerable."

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The Caracas government accused Madrid of "meddling" and "racism."

Spanish officials have recently been critical of Venezuela, citing alleged human rights abuses, and have openly supported detained Venezuelan political leaders.

Venezuela, a former Spanish colony, achieved independence after a war ending in 1823.

Mario Isea, Venezuelan ambassador to Spain, said last week, "We demand respect for our institutions and our sovereignty," questioning why Spain is concerned with "debating about a country that is 8,000 miles away when there are other problems that should be solved."

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Tensions between the two countries escalated after Rajoy welcomed Lillian Tintori to Madrid. Her husband, Leopoldo Lopez, has been in jail in Venezuela for over a year for allegedly leading a protest against the government in which over 40 people were killed.

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