Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has warned that the US ambassador could be asked to leave the country if he continues "meddling in Venezuela's affairs".
The Venezuelan leader made the comment after William Brownfield said US companies and investors must receive a fair price for their shares of Venezuela's largest telephone company when Mr Chavez's government nationalises it.
"If you continue meddling in Venezuela's affairs, first of all, you are violating the Geneva agreements and getting yourself involved in a serious violation and could . . . be declared a persona non grata and would have to leave the country," Mr Chavez warned.
The US envoy said the planned takeover of CA Nacional de Telefonos, or CANTV, should proceed "in a transparent, legal manner" and that Venezuela's government must offer "fair and quick compensation to the people who are affected or the owners".
Mr Chavez - a close ally of Cuban leader Fidel Castro - also has said he plans to nationalise the electricity sector, and take state control of four lucrative oil projects and the natural gas sector.
Relations between Caracas and Washington have been tense since Mr Chavez was briefly deposed in a 2002 coup that he claimed was supported by the United States. The Bush administration has repeatedly denied involvement, although it recognised an interim government established by coup leaders.
AP