(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-03-26 09:44

MOSCOW -- The United States is to reduce its embassy staff in Belarus by more than half amid raising tension between Washington and Minsk, according to reports reaching here.

Accusing the United States of interfering in Belarus' domestic affairs, Belorussian authorities suggested last week that the staff strength of the US embassy in Minsk be reduced.

"The US views this demand as groundless and inconsistent. But it will abide by it and the number of diplomats in Belarus will be reduced to 17 by the end of the day on March 27," RIA news agency cited Jonathan Moore, the US charge d'affaires in Belarus, as saying.

On March 7, Minsk recalled its ambassador from the US and urged the US envoy to leave the country for a consultation. On March 12, US Ambassador to Belarus Karen Stewart left Belarus for Washington.

The US has 38 diplomats in Belarus, and Minsk has 18 diplomatic staff in Washington.

Belorussian national television claimed in a report Sunday night that the US embassy in Minsk had organized a spy ring consisting of about ten Belorussian nationals who engaged in gathering and transferring information for Washington.

However, neither Minsk nor Washington has confirmed the reports.

Bilateral relations soured since Washington dubbed Belorussian President Alexander Lukashenko as "Europe's last dictator", imposed sanctions last November against the country's state-controlled petrochemical company Belneftekhim and froze the assets of its US subsidiary.