The US State Department said Friday the Venezuelan ambassador to the United States will be expelled in a response to Venezuela's decision to expel US ambassador to the country.

"We have informed the Venezuelan ambassador to the United States that he will be expelled and that he should leave the United States," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said.

The tit-for-tat move came after Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez announced on Thursday his decision to expel US ambassador Patrick Duddy and ordered him to leave the country in 72 hours.

Chavez announced the decision to oust the US ambassador hours after saying his government had uncovered a plot to overthrow him and detained a number of conspirators.

(Xinhua News Agency September 13, 2008)