Venezuela prosecutor orders arrest of former state oil chief

CARACAS, Venezuela - Venezuela's chief prosecutor ordered the arrest of the former head of the state oil company Thursday, accusing him of bankrupting the downtrodden country's primary source of income.

Officials also announced that Venezuela is expelling the Spanish ambassador, a move that further isolates the Latin American nation from the international community.

Rafael Ramirez, the former head of the PDVSA state oil company, is wanted on suspicion of money laundering and embezzlement, Attorney General Tarek William Saab said.

Ramirez recently resigned as Venezuela's ambassador at the United Nations after falling out with Venezuela's socialist president, Nicolas Maduro.

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