Venezuela recalls ambassador over Spain's 'intervention'

CARACAS - Venezuela recalled its ambassador to Spain to protest "interventionist declarations" made by Spanish Prime Minister, the Venezuelan News Agency (AVN) said Tuesday.

Ambassador Mario Isea Bohorquez was "recalled for consultation" after Spainish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on Oct 22 commented on the trial of Leopoldo Lopez, a prominent Venezuelan rightwing anti-government politician, the AVN cited the Foreign Ministry as saying.

"As a result of the interventionist declarations of the Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, (the ministry) decided to recall its ambassador for consultation," the ministry said in a statement.

Prior to recalling its ambassador, the ministry sent a letter on Oct 23 to its Spanish counterpart, "rejecting the value judgments made by Rajoy regarding the current trial of Leopoldo Lopez," the AVN said.

During a meeting in Madrid with Lopez' wife Lilian Tintori on Oct 22, Rajoy said it was necessary to protect freedom of speech and the right to protest.

Lopez, 43, of the radical wing of the opposition coalition Democratic Unity Table, "is being tried for his alleged responsibility in the violent events that took place on the afternoon of Feb 12, when a group of rioters attacked the headquarters of the MP (Public Security Ministry) in ... Caracas, following a march he organized and in which two people were killed," the agency added.

Lopez turned himself in after the prosecutors issued an arrest warrant against him in February.

But the campaign went on for three months after his imprisonment, left 40 people dead and more than 600 others injured.