BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

30/12/2007

Belarus warns to expel U.S. ambassador if Washington imposes new economic sanctions

MOSCOW, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko on Sunday threatened to expel United States ambassador in Minsk if Washington imposes new economic sanctions on his country, according to news reports reaching here.

"Let the American ambassador in Minsk be engaged in her own problems or leave her post ahead of time, speaking of a possibility of clamping down on Belarus economic sanctions," the Itar-Tass news agency quoted Lukashenko as saying when visiting a children's social village.

As soon as possible sanctions affect substantially the Belarussian economy, the ambassador "will be the first to be kicked out of Belarus", he was quoted as saying, vowing to "respond immediately and in the toughest possible way" against U.S. sanction.

U.S. ambassador to Belarus Karen Stewart warned in Minsk on Dec. 13 that Washington could impose new sanctions on the nation over its refusal to free political prisoners and allow democratic freedoms.

Source:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-12/30/content_7342090.htm