The United States, in retaliation of Eritrea's imposition of restrictions on U.S. diplomats in Eritrea, has ordered the Red Sea state to close its consulate in Oakland, California, the State Department said on Monday.
The State Department informed Eritrea on Aug. 8 that the consulate must be shut down by Nov. 8, State Department spokesman Karl Duckworth said.
Duckworth cited Eritrea's restrictions imposed on diplomats at the U.S. Embassy in Asmara, including travel curbs, the refusal to grant visas to U.S. officials, and the non-delivery of diplomatic pouches.
"Together, these actions by Eritrea significantly interfere with the ability of the U.S. Embassy to provide consular services to U.S. citizens and others in Eritrea," the spokesman said.
In March, the United States accused Eritrea of supporting radical Islamists in Somalia and added the country to its so- called human rights blacklist.
Source: Xinhua
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