Venezuela recalls ambassador to Peru to protest Chavez opponent asylum

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Venezuela on Tuesday recalled its ambassador in Lima to protest Peru's decision to grant political asylum to a prominent opponent of President Hugo Chavez. Venezuela's foreign ministry said Peru should have arrested and extradited Manuel Rosales rather than granting asylum to the Venezuelan opposition leader facing corruption allegations in his homeland. The ministry said in a statement issued on Monday that Peru's decision "constitutes a mockery of international law." It said Venezuela was recalling its ambassador in Lima and evaluating its diplomatic relations with Peru. Rosales called the charges against him a "political lynching" ordered by Chavez and said a fair trial in Venezuela is impossible.