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Venezuela condemns aggressive
protest against US ambassador
Venezuela on Saturday
acknowledged "excesses" in a
latest protest against U.S.
ambassador to Caracas, but also
clarified its own opinions.
"The Venezuelan government and
people condemn any act of
protest that goes beyond the
limits of respect," acting
Foreign Minister Alcides Rondon
told a press briefing after the
U.S. government reacted sharply
to the incident.
On Friday, after being forced to
leave a charity event, U.S.
ambassador William Brownfield's
car was pelted with eggs, onions
and tomatoes by supporters of
Venezuelan President Hugo
Chavez.
The U.S. government responded
immediately, summoning
Venezuela's ambassador and
warning him of "severe
diplomatic consequence" should
more similar incidents occur.
In recent months, Brownfield has
encountered several protests on
various occasions, with one
incident forcing him to remain
inside a building for hours.
But Rondon said, "We must be
clear: in our country's
political situation there are
places where the presence of
some people is not welcome."
Moreover, the U.S. embassy was
no longer giving police escorts
advance word of the ambassador's
travel plans that might have
helped avert such incidents, he
added. But Embassy officials
said they do provide such
information.
Rondon also warned that if
Washington restricts the
movements of Venezuela's
ambassador, Caracas would
respond in kind.
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