14 Countries recall their ambassadors to protest against Venezuela's failure to hold a "free and fair" election.

A bloc of countries from the Americas monitoring the political crisis in Venezuela  has said that its 14 members would recall their ambassadors to protest against what it said was Venezuela's failure to hold a "free and fair" election.

In a statement issued on Monday May 21,2018, the Lima Group said the members' representatives in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, would return to their respective countries for consultations.

The bloc consists of Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Saint Lucia.

Members have also summoned Venezuelan ambassadors to their countries and agreed to downgrade diplomatic relations with Maduro's government, the statement said.