Guatemala's new President Alejandro Giammattei cut diplomatic ties with the Venezuelan government of President Nicolas Maduro on Thursday and ordered the closure of its embassy in Caracas.

"We have instructed the foreign minister that the only person left in the embassy in
Venezuela should return, and that we definitively end relations with the government of Venezuela," Giammattei said.
The conservative Giammattei, who took office on Tuesday, had already indicated he would cut ties upon assuming power.