\n<\/p>\n
After days of mounting bilateral tensions, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yv\u00e1n Gil has summoned Spain\u2019s ambassador in Caracas in order to protest at a minister\u2019s description of his country\u2019s government as a \u201cdictatorship\u201d.<\/p>\n
Gil described as \u201cinsolent, meddling and rude\u201d comments made by Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles. <\/p>\n
While discussing various repressive regimes around the world, Robles spoke of the \u201cmen and women who have had to leave Venezuela precisely because of the dictatorship they are living through\u201d.<\/p>\n
Gil, writing on <\/b>messaging app Telegram, said the remarks \u201cindicate a deterioration of relations between the two countries\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n As well as summoning the Spanish ambassador, Ram\u00f3n Santos, he said the Venezuelan ambassador in Madrid, Gladys Guti\u00e9rrez, had been recalled for consultation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n On Sunday, the Venezuelan opposition politician Edmundo Gonz\u00e1lez arrived in Madrid<\/a>, requesting asylum which the Spanish government said it would process. <\/p>\n Gonz\u00e1lez\u2019s supporters say he was the clear victor when he ran against President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro in a July election. <\/p>\n Maduro has insisted he won, although without making public electoral documents to prove it, drawing international condemnation.<\/p>\n Gonz\u00e1lez took refuge in the embassy of the Netherlands and the residence of the Spanish ambassador before travelling to Spain. <\/p>\n