Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Thursday ordered the US ambassador to leave the country within 72 hours, in an act of solidarity with Bolivia which also expelled its US envoy.

"Starting at this moment the Yankee ambassador in Caracas has 72 hours to leave Venezuela," Chavez said during a public event, referring to US ambassador Patrick Duddy.

He said it was "in solidarity" with Bolivia, which on Wednesday ordered the US ambassador to La Paz to leave. Washington in turn on Thursday expelled Bolivia's ambassador to the United States.

Chavez then used coarse expletives to disparage the United States.