Sectors in Mexico have launched an anti-Venezuelan campaign in an effort to break off diplomatic relations with Venezuela, Venezuelan Minister of Integration and Foreign Trade Gustavo Márquez said.

Márquez put the blame on Mexican Foreign Minister Jorge Castañeda and expected the ongoing crisis resulting from a dispute between Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez and his Mexican counterpart Vicente Fox not to get worse, Efe quoted.

"Relations between the Mexican and Venezuelan peoples, historically identified as brothers, are paramount. The disagreement should be considered finished," Márquez told official TV channel Venezolana de Televisión.

The day before, the Mexican Foreign Secretariat threatened to call the Mexican ambassador to Caracas and expel the Venezuelan representative if no apologies from the Venezuelan government are offered.

"Mexico demands formal apologies from the Venezuelan government by November, Monday 14th. Otherwise, the Venezuelan government will proceed to request immediate withdrawal of the Venezuelan ambassador," he stated.