Ecuador, Venezuela Cut Colombia Ties

Ecuador, Venezuela Cut Colombia Ties

Ecuador on Monday broke off diplomatic ties with Colombia and Venezuela says it will expel Colombia's ambassador after that country conducted a strike against leftist rebels inside Ecuador.

"The government of Ecuador has decided to break off diplomatic relations with the government of Colombia starting today," a statement from Ecuador's foreign ministry said.

The Venezuelan foreign ministry also announced its decision in a statement, saying it was acting "in defense of the sovereignty of the fatherland and the dignity of the Venezuelan people."

It said the government "has decided to order the immediate expulsion... of the ambassador of the Republic of Colombia in Venezuela, and the diplomatic personnel of the Colombian Embassy in Caracas."