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Spy poisoning: Australian PM condemns Russian 'recklessness' in UK Spy poisoning: Russia vows to hit back over diplomatic expulsions
(about 4 hours later)
Australia has become the latest country to expel Russian diplomats as part of a global response to the poisoning of a Russian spy in the UK. Russia has vowed a tough response to the decision by more than 20 countries to expel its diplomats in response to a nerve agent attack in the UK.
PM Malcolm Turnbull said "the brazen attack in Salisbury was an attack on all of us". Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov singled out the US after it expelled 60 diplomats and closed a consulate, but indicated dialogue would continue.
More than 100 Russian diplomats from more than 20 countries were expelled in a co-ordinated response by the US and EU nations on Monday. The expulsion of around 100 Russians is thought to be the largest in history.
Russia vowed to retaliate to the "provocative gesture". It comes after former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned last month.
It denies any role in the attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, in Salisbury. The pair, who were poisoned with what investigators say was a military-grade nerve agent, remain in a critical but stable condition in hospital. Investigators believe a military-grade nerve agent was used.
Australia is throwing out two diplomats suspected of being "undeclared intelligence officers". EU leaders agreed with the UK last week that it was highly likely Russia was behind the nerve-agent poisoning.
Backing the UK in what is thought to be the largest collective expulsion of Russian intelligence officers in history, Mr Turnbull cited interference in elections and threats to "the sovereignty of our partners". What is Russia's response?
"That is why we are taking this action today with another 23 nations round the world. We are defying this lawlessness, this recklessness of Russia," he said. Russia's foreign ministry called the mass expulsions an "unfriendly act" and said it would "not go without notice and we will react to it".
EU leaders agreed last week it was highly likely Russia was behind the nerve-agent poisoning. The ministry is said to be drawing up a number of possible retaliatory measures for President Putin to consider.
But the Russian foreign ministry said the moves demonstrated a continuation of a "confrontational path". One Russian senator, Vladimir Dzhabarov, was quoted as saying there would be a "tit-for-tat" response to the US' decision to expel 48 envoys at the Russian Embassy in Washington and 12 more at the UN in New York.
"It goes without saying that this unfriendly act by this group of countries will not go without notice and we will react to it," its statement said. Russia's embassy in the US tweeted its response to the closure of the Russian consulate in Seattle.
UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson praised the "extraordinary international response" by the UK's allies. Mr Ryabkov said a tough response to Washington's expulsions was necessary but he stressed Russia would not abandon that strategic stability talks he says were discussed in a recent telephone conversation between President's Putin and Trump, according to RIA Novosti news agency.
In an interview with the BBC, he said "Russian behaviour needs to change" and "the world has had enough".
But he rejected suggestions that a new Cold War was dawning and stressed again that the UK had no quarrel with the Russian people.
Remarkable show of solidarity
By Jonathan Marcus, BBC diplomatic correspondent
This is building into the most serious diplomatic crisis between Russia and the West since Moscow's seizure of Crimea.
Whatever the denials, Britain's allies have clearly accepted its view that the use of a military-grade nerve agent in Salisbury was "highly likely" the work of the Russian state.
The collective expulsions from the US and EU member states is a remarkable show of solidarity with Britain, even more so because it comes at a time when UK-EU relations are strained due to the Brexit negotiations.
European Council President Donald Tusk's note that there could be "additional measures" is a signal to Moscow as it considers how it will respond.
It is a significant diplomatic victory for Prime Minister Theresa May - concerted action has now followed the strong rhetorical support from its allies. It also marks a significant toughening of the Trump administration's stance towards Moscow.
Who is expelling diplomats?Who is expelling diplomats?
The UK announced it was expelling 23 Russian diplomats earlier this month.The UK announced it was expelling 23 Russian diplomats earlier this month.
Various countries announced they were making the same move in solidarity on Monday. These are:Various countries announced they were making the same move in solidarity on Monday. These are:
Iceland has also announced it is suspending high-level dialogue with Russian authorities, and its leaders will not attend the World Cup, which starts in Russia in June.Iceland has also announced it is suspending high-level dialogue with Russian authorities, and its leaders will not attend the World Cup, which starts in Russia in June.
The UK said earlier this month it would not send ministers or members of the Royal Family to the football tournament.The UK said earlier this month it would not send ministers or members of the Royal Family to the football tournament.
Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop mooted the possibility of boycotting the World Cup altogether.
UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has praised the "extraordinary international response" by the UK's allies.
In an interview with the BBC, he said "Russian behaviour needs to change" and "the world has had enough" but he rejected suggestions that a new Cold War was dawning and stressed again that the UK had no quarrel with the Russian people.
Who is not expelling Russians?
EU countries that have said they have no intention of expelling diplomats include Austria, Greece and Portugal, although all have said they support the UK and condemn the poisoning.EU countries that have said they have no intention of expelling diplomats include Austria, Greece and Portugal, although all have said they support the UK and condemn the poisoning.
New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said they did not have any undeclared Russian intelligence officers, but added: "If we did, we would expel them".
Why are they doing it?Why are they doing it?
President of the European Council Donald Tusk said the EU states had decided to expel Russian diplomats as a direct result of a meeting, held last week about the Salisbury poisoning. Australia joined the US and EU nations late on Monday, by announcing it was throwing out two Russian diplomats suspected of being "undeclared intelligence officers".
PM Malcolm Turnbull cited interference in elections and threats to "the sovereignty of our partners" for the move, and said "the brazen attack in Salisbury was an attack on all of us".
President of the European Council Donald Tusk said the EU states had decided to expel Russian diplomats as a direct result of a meeting, held last week, about the Salisbury poisoning.
"Additional measures, including further expulsions within this common EU framework are not to be excluded in the coming days and weeks," he said."Additional measures, including further expulsions within this common EU framework are not to be excluded in the coming days and weeks," he said.
The US state department said in a statement: "On March 4, Russia used a military-grade nerve agent to attempt to murder a British citizen and his daughter in Salisbury.The US state department said in a statement: "On March 4, Russia used a military-grade nerve agent to attempt to murder a British citizen and his daughter in Salisbury.
"This attack on our Ally the United Kingdom put countless innocent lives at risk and resulted in serious injury to three people, including a police officer.""This attack on our Ally the United Kingdom put countless innocent lives at risk and resulted in serious injury to three people, including a police officer."
It called the attack an "outrageous violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention and breach of international law".It called the attack an "outrageous violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention and breach of international law".
The US is expelling 48 envoys at the Russian embassy in Washington and 12 more at the UN in New York. It will also order the closure of the Russian consulate in Seattle. Remarkable show of solidarity
What are the precedents? By Jonathan Marcus, BBC diplomatic correspondent
In 1986, US President Ronald Reagan expelled 80 Cold War-era Russian diplomats. This is building into the most serious diplomatic crisis between Russia and the West since Moscow's seizure of Crimea.
In 2016, the Obama administration expelled 35 Russian diplomats in response to the alleged hacking of the US Democratic Party and Hillary Clinton campaign during the 2016 presidential election, accusations Moscow denied. Whatever the denials, Britain's allies have clearly accepted its view that the use of a military-grade nerve agent in Salisbury was "highly likely" the work of the Russian state.
Senior US officials told the Associated Press that Russia had an estimated 100 intelligence officials at its diplomatic posts in the US, suggesting that dozens will still be left in the country. The collective expulsions from the US and EU member states is a remarkable show of solidarity with Britain, even more so because it comes at a time when UK-EU relations are strained due to the Brexit negotiations.
However, the diplomats working at the UN were described by the US State Department as "intelligence operatives", suggesting it is looking to hamper more than just administrational work. European Council President Donald Tusk's note that there could be "additional measures" is a signal to Moscow as it considers how it will respond.
It is a significant diplomatic victory for Prime Minister Theresa May - concerted action has now followed the strong rhetorical support from its allies. It also marks a significant toughening of the Trump administration's stance towards Moscow.