The United States Wednesday asked nearly 50 Russian diplomats to leave for alleged espionage, CBS News reported.

A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told CBS News that the action was in retaliation for the alleged espionage an agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted on behalf of Moscow.

The official said the expulsion ordered by Secretary of State Colin Powell declared about a half dozen of the Russian diplomats persona non grata for alleged spying activities, and the rest were in response to US concerns that Russia has too many intelligence officers in the United States.

(Xinhua 03/22/2001)