{"id":40116,"date":"2018-03-27T13:53:42","date_gmt":"2018-03-27T08:23:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/apnlive.com\/?p=40116"},"modified":"2018-03-27T14:58:52","modified_gmt":"2018-03-27T09:28:52","slug":"us-eu-allies-expel-113-russian-diplomats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/apnlive.com\/world-news\/us-eu-allies-expel-113-russian-diplomats\/","title":{"rendered":"US, EU and allies expel 113 Russian diplomats"},"content":{"rendered":"
Use of nerve agent against former spy yet to be confirmed<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n In an extraordinary coordinated move against Russia for its alleged involvement in using nerve gas against former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter on British soil, US and European Union and allies have announced to eject \u00a0113 Russian diplomats from their posts.<\/p>\n US President\u00a0Donald Trump has ordered the expulsion of 60 Russian diplomats on Monday and ordered the closure of Russian consulate in Seattle in protest to the attempted assassination for former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter. Both are critically ill in a\u00a0UK\u00a0hospital in Salisbury.<\/p>\n The White House issued a statement on Monday saying, “The\u00a0United States\u00a0takes this action – in conjunction with our NATO allies and partners around the world – in response to Russia’s use of a military-grade chemical weapon on the soil of the United Kingdom, the latest in its ongoing pattern of destabilising activities around the world.”<\/p>\n Read More: UK, US together against Russia on nerve gas attack in London<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Sarah Sanders,\u00a0White House press secretary,\u00a0said the US and its allies want to send a message to Russia that “actions have consequences”. Washington alleges that many of the Russians expelled were\u00a0intelligence officials.<\/p>\n In coordination with Washington\u2019s move, 16 European Union member countries, including France, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Sweden, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Denmark, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Germany, Finland, Romania, and Croatia have decided to expel 33 Russian diplomats.<\/p>\n Moreover, Norway, Albania, and Ukraine have also announced the expulsion of 16 Russian diplomats.<\/a><\/p>\n On March 4, Skripal and his daughter were found unconscious on a bench near a shopping centre in Salisbury, southwest of London. He is a former Russian military intelligence officer accused of spying for the UK. He was convicted by Russian court and imprisoned in 2006. However Skripal was later exchanged for Russian citizens accused of espionage in the UK.<\/p>\n Britain accuses Russia of using the nerve agent Novichok against the two victims. UK has expelled 23 Russian diplomats and their families.<\/p>\n But Moscow denies its involvement in the alleged nerve agent claims and retaliated by expelling 23 British embassy staff.<\/p>\n