Venezuelan Diplomat Ordered to Leave U.S.

Responding to Venezuela's expulsion of a U.S. naval officer, the State Department declared a senior Venezuelan diplomat persona non grata and gave her 72 hours to leave the United States.

Spokesman Sean McCormack identified the diplomat as Jeny Figueredo Frias, the embassy chief of staff.

On Thursday, President Hugo Chavez said Venezuela was expelling U.S. naval attache John Correa, accused of passing secret information from Venezuelan military officers to the Pentagon.