Venezuela halts communication with US diplomat

Venezuela's government has halted lines of communication established by a top US diplomat to protest what it says has been U.S. interference in the country's internal affairs ahead of an election set next month to replace the late President Hugo Chavez.

Foreign Minister Elias Jaua said in a news conference Wednesday that US Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Roberta Jacobson had violated Venezuela's sovereignty despite reaching out to the South American country's government before Chavez's March 5 death. (AP)