1st LD Writethru: NATO withdraws accreditation of 7 Russian diplomats

BRUSSELS, March 27 (Xinhua) -- NATO decided Tuesday to withdraw the accreditation of seven staff at the Russian Mission to NATO in response to the row over the poisoning of Russian ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Britain on March 4.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in a statement that the intensive consultations have taken place among NATO allies following the "attack in Salisbury" against Skripal and his daughter with the nerve agent novichok.

"Those consultations have resulted so far in the expulsion of over 140 Russian officials by over 25 NATO Allies and partners," he said, adding that, "This is a broad, strong and coordinated international response. And as part of that response, NATO is unified in taking further steps."

Stoltenberg said he would also deny the pending accreditation request for three other Russian diplomats.

"It follows Russia's lack of constructive response to what happened in Salisbury," he said.

Skripal, 66, and his 33-year-old daughter Yulia were found unconscious on a bench at a shopping center in Salisbury earlier this month.

They remain in critical condition after exposure to a nerve agent, which, according to the British authorities, could have originated from Russia.

Moscow has denied any involvement in the incident. Enditem