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VENEZUELA EXPELS SPANISH AMBASSADOR CARACAS, VENEZUELA | 25 JANUARY 2018 Venezuela says it's expelling the ambassador from Spain, accusing the European country of meddling in its affairs. Minister of Foreign Affairs Jorge Arreaza said in a statement Thursday that Venezuela considers Spanish ambassador Jesus Silva Fernandez a persona non grata. Spain was a colonial power in Latin American and remains a major trading partner. Many Venezuelans have fled to Spain during the Venezuela's deepening crisis. Spain also is among European Union nations that imposed economic and travel sanctions on seven senior Venezuelan officials this week. Venezuela last month expelled top diplomats from Canada and Brazil. The Associated Press is operational in Caracas with live broadcast positions overlooking the city's skyline. AP BOOKINGS WASHINGTON +1 202 641 9834 bookings@ap.org Follow us: @AP_GMS