Chavez: US ambassador must leave in 72 hours

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez (L) greets new US ambassador to Venezuela, Patrick Duddy, at the Miraflores Palace in Caracas in this October 29, 2007 file photo. Chavez on September 11, 2008 gave the U.S. ambassador 72 hours to leave the oil-rich South American country, saying the measure was a show of support for Bolivia. [Agencies]

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez speaks during a meeting with workers in Valencia, some 130 km (81 miles) from Caracas September 11, 2008. Chavez's government is cutting back Venezuelan flights by U.S. airlines, creating a new source of tension between the United States and one of its leading oil suppliers. Days after the Bush administration questioned the security at Venezuelan airports, AMR Corp's American Airlines and Delta Airlines said on Thursday that Venezuela ordered a reduction in flights to take effect September 28. [Agencies]

CARACAS, Venezuela -- President Hugo Chavez said the US ambassador has 72 hours to leave Venezuela and that he's recalling his ambassador from Washington.

Chavez said Thursday night that he is asking US Ambassador Patrick Duddy to leave, in part, to show solidarity with Bolivian President Evo Morales, who expelled Washington's envoy in La Paz.

"They're trying to do here what they were doing in Bolivia," Chavez said.

"That's enough ... from you, Yankees," he said, using an expletive.

The socialist leader said Venezuela's ambassador to Washington, Bernardo Alvarez, would return to the US "when there's a new government in the United States."

The move by Chavez brings relations with Washington to a new low and raises questions about whether the diplomatic clash could eventually hurt trade. Venezuela is a major oil supplier to the United States, which is the country's No. 1 client.

Chavez announced the decision during a televised speech, hours after saying his government had detained a group of alleged conspirators in a plot to overthrow him.

Chavez accused the group of current and former military officers of trying to assassinate him with backing from the United States. He didn't offer evidence.

US officials have repeatedly denied Chavez's accusations that Washington has backed plots against him.

A US Embassy spokeswoman didn't immediately return a call seeking comment.

Chavez warned last month that Duddy could soon be "packing his bags" after the diplomat lamented that US and Venezuelan officials have not been cooperating in the war on drugs.

Duddy has said that deteriorating diplomatic relations between Caracas and Washington were giving drug smugglers the upper hand.