Belarus President Threatens to Expel US Ambassador

Source: Al-Manar, 30-12-2007

Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko on Sunday threatened to expel the US ambassador to Minsk if Washington tightens sanctions against what it calls Belarus' "oppressive" regime. "As soon as sanctions are imposed that are fundamental to our economy, we will react in the most severe manner," Lukashenko said in comments broadcast on Channel One television. "The first person to be thrown out will be the ambassador of the United States," said Lukashenko, who went on to warn of damage to US interests "not only in Belarus."
The United States last month imposed sanctions on Belarus' largest petrochemical company, Belneftekhim, on the grounds that it was under the control of the "oppressive" Lukashenko. Washington also has a visa ban in place on top officials in the country, which US officials have described as "Europe's last dictatorship".