CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela threatened Wednesday to expel an unnamed U.S. Embassy official for allegedly conspiring to defeat a referendum championed by President Hugo Chavez, accusing the diplomat of plotting to sway public opinion.
The allegation comes ahead of a fiercely contested referendum on reforms that would allow Chavez indefinite re-election and help him establish a socialist state in Venezuela.
On Tuesday, Chavez accused CNN of “inciting” an assassination attempt against him. On Wednesday, Chavez said Washington also is seeking to kill him — a claim he has made in the past.
On Wednesday, hundreds of stone-throwing students clashed with police and the Venezuelan National Guard in a protest against the constitutional overhaul.
