Related: Venezuela expels US military attache over spy claims

                Venezuela describes US expelling of diplomat as retaliation

    WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 (Xinhuanet) -- The United States on Friday ordered the expulsion of a senior Venezuelan diplomat here in retaliation for Caracas's move to kick out a U.S. naval attache accused of spying.

    The United States has informed Venezuela by diplomatic note that it was declaring Jeny Figueredo Frias, a counselor at the embassy here, persona non grata, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said.

    "This decision is in response to the government of Venezuela's decision to yesterday expel Commander John Correa, U.S. naval attache in the U.S. embassy in Caracas," McCormack said.

    "We don't like to get into tit-for-tat games like this with the Venezuelan government, but they initiated this and the U.S. chose to respond," the spokesman said.

    Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez announced on Thursday he was expelling a U.S. Embassy military official who authorities accuse of spying with a group of Venezuelan officers. Washington denied the spy charges.

    Relations between Venezuela and the United States have been deteriorating over recent years, and Caracas accused Washington ofsupporting an abortive coup to overthrow Chavez in April 2002. Enditem