U.S. orders family members of Caracas embassy staff to leave Venezuela

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department on Thursday ordered family members of U.S. government employees at the American embassy in Caracas to leave Venezuela ahead of a weekend vote that has sparked violent protests. The department said in a statement it also authorized the voluntary departure of U.S. government employees at the Caracas embassy. (Reporting by Eric Beech)