| |
 |
US sends away suspected Russians
|
THE United States will ask about 50 Russian diplomats suspected of being intelligence officers to leave, partly in retaliation for the case of FBI agent Robert Hanssen accused of spying for Moscow over 15 years, a US official said on Wednesday.
The US declared about six Russian officials persona non grata for alleged spying activities, an official told reporters on condition of anonymity.
The United States will ask that about 40 other Russian officials suspected of being intelligence officers leave in response to US concerns that Russia has had too many spies operating in the country for some time, he said.
CBS News, which first reported the expulsions, said no deadline had been set for the Russians to leave and some could remain in this country for a few more months.
It would be the biggest diplomatic expulsion since 1986 when President Ronald Reagan ordered 80 Soviet diplomats out.
Secretary of State Colin Powell summoned the Russian ambassador on Wednesday to notify him of the expulsions.
Hanssen was arrested on Feb 18 on charges of selling secrets to the Soviet Union and subsequently Russia for US$1.4 million in money and diamonds since 1985.
He allegedly sold secrets including names of double agents and US electronic surveillance methods, US officials have said. They also accuse him of compromising an eavesdropping tunnel dug by US authorities under the Russian embassy in Washington.
The US government has been trying to get Russia to lower the number of intelligence officers operating in the United States for some time, US officials said.
There was no immediate comment from the Russian Embassy, and it remained to be seen whether Russia would respond in kind.
(SD-Agencies)
|
|
|
|
