Peru Yanks Its Ambassador to Venezuela

Peru recalled its ambassador from Venezuela on Saturday over what it called President Hugo Chavez’s “persistent and flagrant interference” in its upcoming presidential election.

Chavez has characterized one of Peru’s presidential candidates as a thief and repeatedly endorsed a nationalist candidate.

“The government of Peru has decided to immediately remove its ambassador from the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela for the persistent and flagrant interference in internal affairs of Peru, in clear violation of the principles and norms of international law,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The statement said the decision also was in response to comments Chavez made Saturday aimed at Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo.

Tensions began when presidential candidate Alan Garcia last week referred to Chavez and his close ally, Bolivian President Evo Morales, as “historical losers” after they criticized Peru’s signing of a free-trade pact with the United States.

Chavez responded by calling Garcia -- a former president whose 1985-90 administration was marked by hyperinflation, food shortages and guerrilla violence -- a thief and crook. Chavez threatened to withdraw Venezuela’s ambassador if the former leader is elected in an upcoming runoff against Ollanta Humala.

Humala has pledged greater state intervention in Peru’s free-market economy and a radical redistribution of the nation’s wealth in favor of the impoverished majority.