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Venezuelan official ruffles feathers in Brazil
http://news.yahoo.com/venezuelan-official-ruffles-feathers-brazil-145210911.htmlCARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — A Venezuelan official's seemingly low-key visit to Brazil has drawn a rare rebuke from a staunch ally and prompted grumbling at home about privileges enjoyed by top government officers.
Brazil contacted Venezuelan diplomats on Wednesday to complain that the socialist country's former foreign minister, Elias Jaua, had met with a domestic activist group without providing any kind of heads up.
Brazilian Foreign Minister Luiz Alberto Figueiredo said the surprise visit was out of step with the excellent relations between the two countries, and could be interpreted as interference in internal affairs. Brazil does not require ministers to provide notification when they do work in the country, but it is considered good form.
The trip got off to a rocky start two weeks ago when Jaua's nanny was caught with a handgun as she arrived in Brazil on a plane owned by Venezuela's state oil company. She said the gun belonged to Jaua, who had arrived in Brazil a day earlier with his son and ill wife.