Germany Expels Four Iraqi Diplomats

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BERLIN (AP) -- Germany has ordered four Iraqi diplomats to leave the country, citing their involvement in activities "incompatible with their diplomatic status," the Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.

The expulsion order, calling on the four to leave "quickly," was issued on Tuesday, a ministry spokesman said on condition of anonymity.

"We have our own information that they were involved in activities incompatible with their diplomatic status," he added. He refused to elaborate on those activities or to identify the diplomats involved.

Earlier this month, Germany said it was among countries that have received a request from the United States to expel alleged Iraqi agents, but it did not say how many Iraqis were involved or who they were. The spokesman declined to say whether the expulsions were related to that request.

U.S. officials say Washington has identified 300 Iraqis in 60 countries - some of them operating as diplomats out of Iraqi embassies - whom it wants expelled. They argue that the alleged agents could attack American interests overseas.

Iraq has denounced what it called a "frantic campaign" by the CIA. Several other countries have asked Iraqi diplomats to leave, but Russia has refused to comply with the U.S. request.

It wasn't clear whether the four Iraqis - among six Iraqi diplomats in Germany - had already left. Calls to the Iraqi embassy in Berlin went unanswered.

Germany has been a vocal opponent of military action against Baghdad, a stance that has strained ties with Washington over recent months.