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Belarus orders out US diplomats Belarus expulsions 'unjustified'
(about 2 hours later)
Belarus has ordered a number of US diplomats to leave the country. The US has said that Belarus' decision to order the expulsion of 10 US diplomats is unjustified.
The ex-Soviet republic's latest move comes amid a row over human rights violations and follows the expulsion of the US ambassador in March. Belarus summoned the highest US embassy official in Minsk to the foreign ministry on Wednesday, presenting him with a list of "personae non gratae".
The foreign ministry summoned the most senior US diplomat, presenting him with a list of officials "declared personae non gratae and required to leave". The ex-Soviet republic's latest move follows the expulsion of the US ambassador in March.
Jonathan Moore said he had been given a list of 10 US diplomats who had been ordered to leave within 72 hours. US State Department Spokesperson Sean McCormack said the action was both unfair and "unwarranted".
"We will do everything possible so that the US diplomats leave the country within the required time limit," Mr Moore said. "We are considering our response to this action," Mr McCormack said, according to Reuters.
The US embassy says it now has 15 diplomats in Minsk. A senior US diplomat, Jonathan Moore, said he had been given a list of 10 US diplomats who had been ordered to leave within 72 hours.
He said they would do everything possible to comply with the request and ensure the staff left the country within the set time limit.
The US embassy says it currently has 15 diplomats in Minsk.
DefiantDefiant
The diplomatic expulsions were initially ordered after Washington imposed sanctions on the country's state-controlled oil-processing and chemicals company, Belneftekhim.The diplomatic expulsions were initially ordered after Washington imposed sanctions on the country's state-controlled oil-processing and chemicals company, Belneftekhim.
The firm accounts for about a third of the country's foreign currency earnings.The firm accounts for about a third of the country's foreign currency earnings.
Belarus said its embassy staff in Washington had been cut to six, but that the US had not cut staff enough.Belarus said its embassy staff in Washington had been cut to six, but that the US had not cut staff enough.
The US - along with the European Union - has also restricted the travel of authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko and members of his inner circle.The US - along with the European Union - has also restricted the travel of authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko and members of his inner circle.
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.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."If the Americans introduce new sanctions and think we will collapse, that's rubbish," he said, adding that no political prisoners would be released.