Panama suspends diplomatic relations with Venezuela pending election review

PANAMA CITY (Reuters) -Panama put its diplomatic relations with Venezuela "on hold" and will withdraw its diplomatic personnel from the country until a full review of Sunday's presidential election results is conducted, President Jose Raul Mulino said on Monday.

Earlier in the day, Panama joined eight other Latin American countries calling for an emergency meeting of the Organization of American States (OAS) permanent council, citing concerns about Venezuela's election, in which President Nicolas Maduro and opposition rival Edmundo Gonzalez both claimed victory.

"We are putting diplomatic relations on hold until a complete review of the voting records and of the voting computer system is carried out," Mulino said during a press conference.

Mulino said the withdrawal of diplomatic personnel usually takes about 72 hours, but that the foreign affairs ministry will decide what is appropriate.

(Reporting by Elida Moreno; Writing by Aida Pelaez-Fernandez; Editing by Brendan O'Boyle)

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