Peru orders Venezuelan diplomats to leave the country

WASHINGTON

Peru's Foreign Ministry on Monday ordered Venezuelan diplomats accredited in the Andean nation to leave the country within 72 hours.

The ministry announced this in a statement, citing "the serious and arbitrary decisions taken today by the Venezuelan regime."

The statement came after President Nicolas Maduro, 61, was declared the winner of Venezuela’s presidential election held on Sunday, giving him a third term in office.

According to the National Electoral Council (CNE), Maduro secured 51% of the vote against 44% received by opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez.

The announcement was made early Monday by Elvis Amoroso, the head of the electoral authority, who said the results are based on 80% of voting stations.

The opposition, led by Maria Corina Machado, rejected the results, claiming they do not correspond to the votes cast.