BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

12/03/2008

U.S. ambassador temporarily leaves Belarus

MOSCOW, March 12 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Ambassador to Belarus Karen Stewart left Belarus Wednesday for Washington, Russian news agencies reported.

The ambassador's absence is temporary and Karen Stewart remains the U.S. ambassador to the European state, the Interfax news agency quoted the U.S. diplomatic mission in Minsk as saying.

"Karen Stewart will keep the status of ambassador to Belarus but will spend several weeks working intensively in Washington," Igor Rynkevich, deputy chairman of the Belarussian Social Democratic Party, was quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency as saying.

According to earlier media reports, Belarus recalled its ambassador to the United States Mikhail Khvostov last week and urged the U.S. envoy to leave the country.

The moves have been taken to retaliate against the U.S. sanctions on Belarussian oil monopoly Belneftekhim, said a statement by the Belarus Foreign Ministry.

Source:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-03/12/content_7776798.htm

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