Russia expels two Czech diplomats in spy row

Russia has ordered two Czech diplomats to leave the country in a tit-for-tat spying row with Prague, Interfax news agency quoted an unidentified Russian official as saying on Tuesday.

"This unfriendly act by the Czech side, which declared two of our diplomats persona non grata, could not be left without a response," the official told the agency. "Two Czech embassy workers in Moscow were told to leave Russia."

The Czech Republic expelled one Russian diplomat and told another not to come back from holiday due to suspicions they were spying, website www.idnes.cz said late on Monday.

"It is surprising that this information became public knowledge despite the fact that the Czech side itself proposed not to allow any leaks," the Russian official told Interfax.