U.S. meets Belarus demand, cuts embassy staff

By Andrei Makhovsky

MINSK, Mar 24 (Reuters) - The United States, locked in a row with Belarus, said on Monday it was cutting diplomatic staff at its Minsk embassy at the request of authorities after its ambassador left.

The measure will cut the size of the embassy staff by about half in Belarus. The West accuses President Alexander Lukashenko of crushing basic rights and U.S. officials have described the country as the "last dictatorship in Europe".

Ambassador Karen Stewart left Minsk this month after being urged to by the authorities. U.S. officials responded by saying they had suspended issuing visas for Belarussian citizens.

"This morning, I handed over the reply of the United States to the demand to the cut the number of diplomats at our Minsk embassy," U.S. charge d'affaires Jonathan Moore said in a statement received by Reuters.

"The United States 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."

Officials said about 30 diplomats now worked at the embassy.

Belarus has complained that the United States was imposing new penalties against oil products firm Belneftekhim. The United States and European Union have imposed a range of sanctions on Belarus, including an entry ban on Lukashenko on the grounds that he rigged his 2006 re-election.

Russia has defended Belarus, its traditional ally on its Western border, against Western criticism.