Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced Monday night that U.S. diplomats have 48 hours to leave the country. President Maduro is accusing the United States of backing opposition protests under the guise of youth visa outreach. The U.S. has called these claims “baseless and false,” and said that they have yet to receive any formal notification for the diplomats’ expulsion. Maduro has previously expelled American diplomats twice since being elected president in April 2013. 

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The U.S. State Department expressed concern about the rising tension and violent protests in Venezuela. Opposition leader Leopold Lopez turned himself in to the Venezuelan police on Tuesday after a warrant for his arrest was issued on charges of conspiracy and murder.

SEE ALSO: U.S. Tries For Dialogue With Venezuela Following Chavez's Death 

Read more on Venezuela's protests at CNN, the Boston Herald, and El Universal.

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