Islam Times - Russia expels detained US diplomat after 'spy recruitment'

Islam Times - Moscow has ordered expulsion of a US diplomat accused of spy recruitment, calling it a provocative action in the spirit of the Cold War.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry declared CIA agent Ryan C Fogle persona non grata and ordered him to depart immediately from the country.

The ministry added that such "provocative acts in the spirit of the Cold War in no way help strengthen mutual trust" between Moscow and Washington.

Russia’s Federal Security Service, the former KGB, detained Fogle on Monday after allegedly trying to recruit a Russian national to spy for CIA.

The security service said at the time of capture, Fogle was carrying "special technical equipment and written instructions for recruiting a Russian citizen."

The CIA agent was held overnight and then handed over to US officials at the embassy, where Fogle was working undercover as third secretary.

The United States Embassy has declined immediate comment on the detention.

The capture came days after President Vladimir Putin and US Secretary of State John Kerry said in Moscow that the relationship between the two sides was improving.