U.S. President Barack Obama’s administration has ordered the expulsion from the United States of Venezuela’s consul-general in Miami.
Unconfirmed reports say the diplomat, Livia Acosta Noguera, has faced scrutiny over allegations she had discussed an alleged Iranian-backed plot to possibly launch cyberattacks on official U.S. targets.
The allegations were made in a documentary program aired on the Spanish-language television network Univision.
The U.S. State Department said on January 8 that it had declared Acosta persona non grata and given her until January 10 to leave the country, in line with standard diplomatic procedure. No reason for the expulsion was given.
There was no immediate reaction from the Venezuelan government of President Hugo Chavez, who has strained ties with Washington.
The news about the Venezuelan diplomat’s expulsion from the United States came shortly before Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad began a visit to Venezuela.
compiled from agency reports
Unconfirmed reports say the diplomat, Livia Acosta Noguera, has faced scrutiny over allegations she had discussed an alleged Iranian-backed plot to possibly launch cyberattacks on official U.S. targets.
The allegations were made in a documentary program aired on the Spanish-language television network Univision.
The U.S. State Department said on January 8 that it had declared Acosta persona non grata and given her until January 10 to leave the country, in line with standard diplomatic procedure. No reason for the expulsion was given.
There was no immediate reaction from the Venezuelan government of President Hugo Chavez, who has strained ties with Washington.
The news about the Venezuelan diplomat’s expulsion from the United States came shortly before Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad began a visit to Venezuela.
compiled from agency reports