BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

07/03/2008

U.S. regrets Belarus' decision to expel ambassador

WASHINGTON, March 7 (Xinhua) -- The United States said Friday it regrets the "unjustified" decision by Belarus to expel the U.S. ambassador out of the country.

"We strongly regret this unjustified action by the Belarussian government. This is deeply disappointing and only takes them further away from Europe and the rest of the world," U.S. National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.

Earlier Friday, Belarus recalled its ambassador to the United States and urged the U.S. envoy to leave the country.

According to a statement by the Foreign Ministry of Belarus, the moves have been taken to retaliate against Washington's new sanctions on Belarus' national oil products firm Belneftekhim last year.

Bilateral ties between the United States and Belarus have been chilly.

Source:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-03/07/content_7741139.htm

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