Venezuela Withdraws Ambassador from Mexico
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Ali Rodriguez ordered the withdrawal of Ambassador to Mexico Vladimir Villegas Monday, thus reducing relations to the level of charge d'affaires.

The Venezuelan official made the announcement at a news conference in response to the Mexican government ultimatum for an apology and a threat to withdraw its ambassador in Caracas, which Rodriguez said made no sense.

The diplomat also released a communiqué faulting Mexican President Vicente Fox' disrespectful attacks on President Hugo Chavez, with terms like "inconsistent" and "intolerant", in his effort to elbow space for the US Free Trade Area for the Americas that was not on the agenda of the fourth Summit of the Americas.

The note pointed out that Chavez did not respond to the attacks during the Summit, but when the Mexican head of state continued inveighing against Venezuela afterwards, Chavez was forced to respond publicly.

Venezuela supports the position of the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), made up of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.

The Venezuelan diplomatic message noted that the US-sponsored FTAA uses terms like equality, but really means competition with the strongest and most powerful nation.

By contrast, MERCOSUR calls for vigorous integration based on economic balance, cooperation, solidarity and absolute respect for sovereignty.

It conveyed Venezuela's respect for the Mexican people and admiration for its deep patriotic and anti-imperialist traditions.

The Foreign Ministry memo recalled that Venezuela is not rupturing with Mexico and that they will follow the evolution of this situation and find ways to resolve these problems that Venezuela did not provoke.