Venezuela recalls Brazil ambassador over Rousseff’s ouster

CARACAS, Venezuela – Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is recalling his ambassador to Brazil to protest the suspension of his leftist ally Dilma Rousseff.

Maduro held a televised meeting with his Cabinet Friday night and said that Rousseff’s suspension this week is an attempt to erase the will of the Brazilian people and threatens progressive democracies across the Americas.

Maduro is fighting an attempt for a referendum to remove him from power as well. He’s accused the U.S. of plotting to oust leftist governments in South America. The 11-nation Bolivarian Alliance he leads also condemned Rousseff’s ouster.

But incoming Brazilian Foreign Minister Jose Serra says his government won’t take lessons from its Spanish-speaking neighbours. On Friday he said Rousseff’s removal is transparent and constitutional.