Venezuelan ambassador to Mexico Vladimir Villegas speaks to members of the media at Venezuela's embassy Nov. 14, 2005, in Mexico City, after he announced he will leave the country in the afternoon. (Xinhua/AFP photo)

Venezuelan ambassador in Mexico Vladimir Villegas (R)makes call with his wife by his side in Mexico City Nov. 14, 2005. (Xinhua/AFP photo)

   

    MEXICO CITY, Nov. 14 (Xinhuanet) -- Mexico and Venezuela recalled their ambassadors on Monday amid a dispute between the presidents of the two Latin American countries over a United States-backed proposal on regional free trade.

    Venezuela Foreign Minister Ali Rodriguez announced the recall after Mexico threatened to withdraw its envoy if Caracas did not apologize for remarks by President Hugo Chavez, who branded his Mexican counterpart, Vicente Fox, a "lap dog" of US imperialism.

    Shortly after that, Fox said Mexico would also recall its ambassador.

    "We have dignity in Mexico and we have to put a stop to anybody who offends the dignity of Mexico or its institutions," Fox said in a live interview with CNN en Espanol channel.

    The row came after the regional Summit of the Americas in Argentina, where leaders failed to iron out differences over how to create a free trade zone in the Western Hemisphere. Enditem