Canada on Monday ordered Venezuela’s ambassador and charge d’affaires to leave, escalating a row two days after its top diplomat at the Canadian embassy in Venezuela was kicked out by President Nicolas Maduro’s regime. “In response to this move by the Maduro regime, I am announcing that the Venezuelan ambassador to Canada… is no longer welcome in Canada. I am also declaring the Venezuelan charge d’affaires persona non grata,” Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said in a statement. Venezuela has riposted fiercely against growing international condemnation of Maduro’s tightening hold on power this year. On Friday, Canada imposed fresh sanctions on Maduro and members of his regime for alleged rights violations and corruption.

Source: Punch December 25, 2017 18:56 UTC