Venezuela and Spain sack each other's ambassadors

President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro has not only declared Silva (first picture, by Spain's ministry of public works) a persona non grata, but has given him just 72 hours to leave the country as a result of what the Caribbean nation's leader calls 'the continual aggression and recurrent acts of slander by the Spanish government' against him and his cabinet.

“We urge [Venezuelan authorities] to reverse their decision, since it goes against the need to maintain diplomatic channels open,” said European Commissioner for foreign affairs, Catherine Ray.

Spain's own foreign affairs minister Alfonso Dastis assured, once Maduro fired the ambassador, that his government would 'respond reciprocally and in proportion'.

This has led to a 'tit-for-tat' sacking of Venezuelan ambassador in Spain, Mario Isea (second picture), whom Mariano Rajoy's PP-led government has also named a persona non grata.

Spokesman for the Spanish government Íñigo Méndez de Vigo says this decision has been taken in 'strict reciprocity', and that the Mediterranean country 'regrets the move' made by Maduro.

“But, faced with measures of this nature being taken, we have had to respond in the same vein,” Méndez de Vigo insists.

The minister says Spain 'hopes to retain a relationship of respect, friendship and cooperation' with Venezuela, but that 'the decisions made by Nicolás Maduro's government make it difficult for this wish to come true'.

Venezuela has particularly reproached Spain for having led the European move to impose sanctions on seven top-flight members of Maduro's régime, including his second-in-command Diosdado Cabello, and claims Madrid is 'following the notorious instructions of the USA'.

Tensions between Venezuela and Spain have reached levels not seen for many years.

Silva Fernández is expected to be back in Spain by the weekend, and has thanked his Twitter followers for their messages of support.

Among these supporters is a political analyst and professor from Puerto Rico, who is calling for all European governments to declare their Venezuelan ambassadors personas non grata.

Meanwhile, the Venezuelan Parliament – mostly made up of opposition members to the reigning government – has called Maduro's actions 'insulting'.

“Venezuela has turned its back on what is an historic relationship starting from the very Genesis of our nation, and has forgotten that our roots are Spanish,” a note from Parliament says.