Addis Ababa, August 14, 2007 (Addis Ababa) - In what came as a further sign of worsening relations between Washington and Asmara, Eritrea has been given a 90-day deadline to close its consulate in Oakland, California, AFP reported from Asmara.“We told them on August 10 that we were withdrawing our consent for the establishment of a consulate in Oakland,” AFP quoted a US official as having said on condition of anonymity.
“The US has taken these actions in response to restrictions on the US embassy in Asmara," the official added.
The US scaled down operations in its Asmara embassy in February after claiming Asmara had demanded to inspect its diplomatic mail bags, AFP reported.
US officials said the constraints included interference with diplomatic pouches, travel restriction for embassy personnel and the refusal to grant visas, AFP reported.
Already, the US embassy in Asmara closed its visa section in February for what it said were similar difficulties, AFP recalled.
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