Russia drops NATO talks over expulsions

MOSCOW: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has dropped plans to attend a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council this month in protest at NATO's expulsion of Russian diplomats, Russia's NATO envoy said yesterday.

NATO said it regretted Russia's decision and hoped a new date would soon be agreed for the talks.

Russia had already pulled out of a planned meeting among senior military staff tomorrow in protest at NATO war games that are due to start today in Georgia. A spy scandal resulting in the expulsion of the diplomats has further exacerbated tensions.