Russia expelling more western diplomats in revenge for scandal over ex-spy poisoning
Russia has ordered the expulsion of more diplomats from Western countries in a tit-for-tat response over the poisoning of an ex-spy in the UK, BBC News reports.
The retaliatory measure comes a day after Russia kicked out 60 US diplomats and closed the St Petersburg consulate.
The UK has blamed Russia for the nerve agent attack which Russia denies.
Moscow called in the British ambassador on Friday to order the UK to reduce its diplomatic staff in Russia to equate the Russian presence in the UK.
Both countries have already expelled 23 staff. Moscow also ordered the closure of the British Council.
Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia collapsed in Salisbury, in England, on 4 March. Mr Skripal remains in a critical but stable condition. Yulia's condition is said to be improving.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned on Thursday that the world risked "coming to a situation that is similar, to a large extent, to what we lived during the Cold War".
Twenty-nine countries have expelled 145 Russian officials in solidarity with the UK - and Nato has also ordered 10 Russians out of its mission in Belgium.
The US expelled the largest single number - 60 diplomats - and closed the Russian consulate general in Seattle.
Russia reciprocated on Thursday declaring 58 US diplomats in Moscow and two in the city of Yekaterinburg to be "personae non gratae".
The US said it had been expecting the move and warned it may take further action.
On Friday, Western ambassadors from the countries that had expelled Russians were called in to be told of Moscow's retaliation.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has blamed "harsh pressure from the United States and Britain under the pretext of the so-called Skripal case".
He reiterated Russian calls for consular access to Yulia Skripal - a Russian citizen.
Russia, he said, was also seeking a meeting with leaders of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to "establish the truth".
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