UPDATE 2-Belarus urges U.S. ambassador to leave

(Adds Belarussian explanation, Washington reaction)

By Andrei Makhovsky

MINSK, March 7 (Reuters) - Belarus, accused in the West of violating fundamental rights, recalled its ambassador to the United States on Friday and urged the U.S. envoy to leave the ex-Soviet state.

Washington, where officials have described Belarus as Europe's last dictatorship, said the measure was unjustified and served to further isolate the country.

A Belarussian foreign ministry spokesman said Minsk had been taking measures to improve ties with the West, but the latest moves were prompted by U.S. sanctions imposed on Belarus's national oil products firm Belneftekhim.

"One of these steps is the recall of Belarus's ambassador in Washington for consultations," spokesman Andrei Popov said. "At the same time and for the same purpose, Belarus urges the U.S. ambassador to leave our country."

In Washington, White House National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe expressed regret at "this unjustified action by the Belarussian government".

"This is deeply disappointing and only takes them further away from Europe and the rest of the world," he said.

The U.S. embassy in Minsk said ambassador Karen Stewart was in the country, but offered no further comment.