The United States expelled a senior Venezuelan diplomat today in a swift tit-for-tat move against President Hugo Chavez, who has an increasingly antagonistic relationship with the superpower.
The United States targeted for expulsion Jeny Figueredo, describing her as the ambassador's chief-of-staff, after Caracas did the same to a US Embassy naval attaché the day before.
"We don't like to do tit-for-tat but the Venezuelans initiated it," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters.
While Figueredo, whose title is minister-counselor, had little contact with US government officials, she was key to the running of the embassy in Washington, overseeing most personnel issues and providing constant advice to the ambassador.
