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| Belarus orders out US diplomats | Belarus orders out US diplomats |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Belarus has ordered a number of US diplomats to leave the country. | Belarus has ordered a number of US diplomats to leave the country. |
| The ex-Soviet republic's move on Wednesday came amid a row over human rights violations in Belarus. | The ex-Soviet republic's move on Wednesday came amid a row over human rights violations in Belarus. |
| The foreign ministry summoned the most senior US diplomat, presenting him with a list of officials "declared personae non gratae and required to leave". | |
| Belarus said its embassy staff in Washington had been cut to six, but that the US had not reduced its staff in Belarus "in the same way". | Belarus said its embassy staff in Washington had been cut to six, but that the US had not reduced its staff in Belarus "in the same way". |
| In March, Belarus expelled the US ambassador after Washington imposed sanctions on the country's state-controlled oil-processing and chemicals company. | |
| The US - along with the European Union - has restricted the travel of authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko and members of his inner circle, as well as imposing broader economic sanctions. | |
| In his annual address to the nation on Tuesday, Mr Lukashenko expressed defiance over pressure from the US and EU to free political prisoners in order to improve ties. | |
| "If the Americans introduce new sanctions and think we will collapse, that's rubbish," he said, adding that no political prisoners would be released. |