U.S. says Belarus' ousting of diplomats unwarranted

By Susan Cornwell

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Belarus' decision to oust 10 U.S. diplomats was "unjustified and unwarranted," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said on Wednesday, but he declined to say whether the United States would retaliate in kind.

"We are considering our response to this action," McCormack told Reuters.

Belarus earlier on Wednesday issued a list of 10 U.S. diplomats it said must leave the ex-Soviet state within 72 hours amid a continuing dispute with Washington over human rights and sanctions.

"Since this is a formal diplomatic demand, we'll comply with the deadline that has been given to us," McCormack said. But, he said, "We believe the action is unjustified and unwarranted."

Washington and the 27-member European Union accuse Belarus of flouting democratic freedoms and have imposed sanctions on the country, including an entry ban on President Alexander Lukashenko.

Belarus said the diplomats must leave because Washington had refused to comply with a demand that it reduce the staff at its Minsk embassy from 17 to six.

The reduction in embassy staff was the second Belarus had sought from the United States this year. In March, Belarus asked the U.S. ambassador to leave the country after the United States issued a clarification of U.S. sanctions that apply to the national oil products firm Belneftekhim.

Belarus says the clarification amounted to an expansion of the sanctions, but Washington denies that.