World news in brief – Embassy 6 – March 2008

US envoys leave Belarus after row

MINSK – The US has agreed to cut its embassy staff in Minsk by almost half at the request of Belarusian authorities following US Ambassador Karen Stewart’s forced departure from Minsk and accusations that the embassy was involved in spying activities. Some 15 US diplomats left Minsk last Friday, reducing the number of diplomats in the country to 17.