Peru Orders Venezuelan Diplomats to Leave Amid Election Controversy

Peru's government has given Venezuelan diplomats 72 hours to leave, following the re-election of President Nicolas Maduro, which has been widely criticized. Peru's actions are part of a broader regional response, and the Organization of American States is set to meet to discuss the contentious election.

Peru's government has ordered Venezuelan diplomats to exit the country within 72 hours following the controversial re-election of President Nicolas Maduro on Sunday.

The move comes as Venezuelan opposition and independent pollsters have called Maduro's victory implausible.

In a statement, Peru's foreign ministry cited the 'serious and arbitrary decisions made today by the Venezuelan regime' as the rationale for dismissing the diplomats. Peru hosts one of the largest Venezuelan migrant communities in the region.

Peru's Foreign Minister, Javier Gonzalez-Olaoechea, in an interview with CNN, did not rule out breaking diplomatic ties altogether, although he expressed no immediate desire to do so. He added that regional governments are coordinating their reactions to the contested vote.

Earlier on Monday, Peru had recalled its ambassador and expressed unwillingness to accept the violation of Venezuelans' popular will. The Organization of American States will hold an extraordinary meeting on Wednesday to discuss the election results, amid widespread calls from Latin American leaders for greater transparency.