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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Russia 'expels US embassy staff' | Russia 'expels US embassy staff' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Russia has ordered the expulsion of two military attaches from the American embassy in Moscow, US officials say. | Russia has ordered the expulsion of two military attaches from the American embassy in Moscow, US officials say. |
| The US state department said it would comply with the order although it objected to it. | The US state department said it would comply with the order although it objected to it. |
| Two Russians have been expelled from Washington in recent months, one in November and the second on 22 April. | Two Russians have been expelled from Washington in recent months, one in November and the second on 22 April. |
| The news comes as Russia conducts a transition of power with Vladimir Putin becoming prime minister and Dmitry Medvedev president. | The news comes as Russia conducts a transition of power with Vladimir Putin becoming prime minister and Dmitry Medvedev president. |
| The expulsion order was given some days ago but was only revealed by the state department on Thursday. | |
| An official there confirmed to Reuters news agency the pair had been asked to leave but declined to say what reasons had been given for the expulsion. | |
| It is not known whether the pair have left Moscow yet. | |
| "They have not been declared persona non grata but they have been asked to leave," the official said. | |
| The Russian foreign ministry said it had "no comment at the moment". |