Venezuela has given the German ambassador to the country 48 hours to leave, accusing him of meddling in internal affairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Daniel Kriener was among the diplomats who helped opposition leader Juan Guaid\u00f3 return to Venezuela on Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Germany, which recognises Mr Guaid\u00f3 as interim president, says the decision will only escalate tensions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, the US says it is revoking the visas of 77 more people linked to President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They include government officials and their families, Vice-President Mike Pence said. On Friday, 49 other people had their visas revoked as part of the US pressure on Mr Maduro to resign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr Maduro has accused Mr Guaid\u00f3 of trying to mount a coup against him with the help of “US imperialists”. Rallies for and against the government are due to be held on Saturday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a separate development, Venezuela arrested American journalist Cody Weddle and his Venezuelan assistant on Wednesday morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The reporter, who works for several US outlets, was released later in the day and is being deported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Several local and foreign journalists have been briefly detained while working in Caracas in recent weeks. Some have since been deported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Wednesday, a statement by the Venezuelan government declared Mr Kriener “persona non grata” and accused him of “recurrent acts of interference in internal affairs”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr Guaid\u00f3 had defied a travel ban and was widely expected to be arrested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But when he flew into Sim\u00f3n Bolivar airport in Caracas, he was let through immigration and welcomed by a group of diplomats, including Mr Kriener, who escorted him out of the building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Diplomats from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, France, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Spain and the US were at airport to receive Mr Guaid\u00f3 – but so far only Mr Kriener has been targeted over this incident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Earlier, officials from the US, the EU and a number of Latin American countries had warned the Venezuelan government not to arrest or harm Mr Guaid\u00f3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before Mr Guaid\u00f3’s arrival, Mr Kriener had said he and other diplomats wanted “to help and support a safe return” for the opposition leader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n