Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Officials in Ecuador say they're expelling Venezuela's ambassador because an official from the neighboring country called its president a "liar."
The Foreign Ministry office announced its decision Thursday, saying Venezuela's Communications Minister Jorge Rodriguez called Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno a "liar" for alleging that 140 buses leave Venezuela every day carrying migrants to Ecuador.
The rising tensions come as masses of Venezuelans flee a historic crisis that's led to shortages of food and medicine and crumbling services like electricity and running water.
Officials in Ecuador say they won't tolerate disrespect from Venezuela and have vowed to continue assisting migrants entering the country.
Many in the international community, including the United States, blame Venezuela's socialist President Nicolas Maduro for causing the crisis.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.