MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Venezuela-US recrimination and visa “war” escalates

The Venezuelan government withdrew the diplomatic immunity of United States anti drugs officials working in Venezuela and accused Washington of escalating the ongoing bilateral war of words with the purpose of forcing a break in diplomatic relations.

The decision follows a move by the US State Department revoking the visas of six Venezuelan officials, three of them suspects of involvement in drug trafficking.

Both countries are locked in a dispute after President Hugo Chavez accused the Drug Enforcement Administration of spying on his government. Washington denies the charges accusing Caracas of failing to cooperate in the fight against drug trafficking.

Actually General Frank Morgado Venezuela's National Guard anti-drug commander was one of those targeted by the United States in a move that drew a threat of retaliation from the Venezuelan government.

Venezuelan vice-president Jose Vicente Rangel said his country would apply strict reciprocity in the allocation of visas to US officials. "For every attack, there will be a reaction, for every strike, a strike back?and the revoking of visas will mean reciprocal action".

"The Venezuelan government will apply reciprocity to U.S. citizens in the matter of visas. We are no longer going to accept civilian personnel from DEA being assigned to the US Embassy because that gives them the benefit of immunity", underlined vice president Rangel.

But Mr. Rangel insisted that the move does not herald a break in relations with Washington.

"There is an escalation by the U.S. government whose ultimate aim is rupture, but we are not going to be provoked. We're not going to contribute to the hawks in Washington game".

Earlier this week President Chavez said he was suspending cooperation with DEA because "they are using the pretext of fighting drug trafficking to spy on Venezuela's government".

Mr. Rangel said "DEA had twelve clandestine safe-houses in Venezuela for espionage activities unrelated to its official mission of combating drug traffickers".

The vice president also announced that Venezuela is considering requiring prospective U.S. visitors to Venezuela to undergo the same "bothersome and delay procedures" imposed on Venezuelans applying for visas to travel to the United States.