Politics The United States expelled Venezuela's Ambassador Bernardo Álvarez in retaliation for the decision of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez to expel Patrick Duddy, the US envoy in Caracas, the US Department of State reported on Friday.

On Thursday, Chávez had instructed publicly Nicolás Maduro, his Minister of Foreign Affairs, to arrange the immediate expulsion of the US ambassador, AFP reported.

"I am instructing our Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Maduro, to recall Venezuelan ambassador from Washington, before US authorities expel him. "He must return to his homeland," the Venezuelan President ordered.