CARACAS—Venezuela said it was expelling two U.S. Embassy officials for plotting against the government, giving two air force members 24 hours to leave the country.
Vice President Nicolás Maduro also said President Hugo Chávez's enemies poisoned him with the cancer he has battled for nearly two years.
"Behind all of [the plots] are the enemies of the fatherland," Mr. Maduro said on state television Tuesday.
Speculation surged earlier in the day that Venezuelan authorities were preparing to make a statement about the future in office of Mr.Chávez.
On Monday, the government said Mr. Chávez had a "new and severe infection" that has caused his breathing problems to worsen following cancer surgery. Information minister, Ernesto Villegas, said the Venezuelan leader was receiving "strong impact chemotherapy among other complementary treatments," Mr. Villegas on national television.
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