Venezuela expels three US embassy diplomats

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro talks during a press conference at the Miraflores Presidential Palace in Caracas on September 9, 2013 (AFP/File)

Caracas (AFP) – President Nicolas Maduro ordered the expulsion Monday of three US diplomats whom he alleged were plotting economic and power-grid sabotage with the Venezuelan opposition.

"I order Foreign Minister Elias Jaua to take action to expel them from the country. The officials have 48 hours to leave the country. ...Yankees go home," Maduro said in a public address without immediately specifying what posts the Americans hold.