Guatemala's new President Alejandro Giammattei said on Thursday his country was cutting diplomatic ties with the Venezuelan government of President Nicolas Maduro and would close its embassy in Caracas. 

Giammattei's announcement came after a meeting with the head of the Organization of American States, Luis Almagro.

"We have instructed the foreign minister that the only person left in the embassy in Venezuela should return, and that we definitively end relations with the government of Venezuela," Giammattei said. "We are going to close the embassy." 

The conservative Giammattei, who took office on Tuesday, had already indicated he would cut ties with Venezuela upon assuming power.