Last week President George W. Bush announced that 50 Russian diplomats working in the U.S. would be sent home. Diplomats are representatives from one nation who conduct relations with another. At least four of the departing diplomats had reportedly helped accused spy Robert Hanssen, the former FBI agent arrested last month.

Russian oficials are furious. They say they will now send home 50 U.S. diplomats. Russian security official Sergei Ivanov vowed "to choose those who are most precious to the Americans."

U.S. officials see this as a one-time incident, not the beginning of bad relations between the countries. Says National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice: "We expect to have a fruitful relationship with Russia."

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March 30, 2001 World Report