Russian President Vladimir Putin has
ruled out a tit-for-tat response after
the US expelled 35 Russian diplomats
amid a row over hacking.
He said Russia would not "stoop" to
the level of "irresponsible diplomacy"
but would work to restore ties with
the US under President-elect Donald
Trump.
Russia's foreign ministry had formally
asked Mr Putin to expel 35 US
envoys.
The country denies involvement in
hacking related to the US election,
calling US sanctions "ungrounded".
Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev
accused the outgoing US
administration of President Barack
Obama of ending in "anti-Russian
death throes".
Diplomatic spat goes undiplomatic
What are the luxury Russian
compounds?
Under the US action taken on
Thursday:
Thirty-five diplomats from
Russia's Washington embassy
and its consulate in San Francisco
were declared "persona non grata"
and given 72 hours to leave the
US with their families
Two properties said to have been
used by Russian intelligence
services in New York and
Maryland will be closed
Sanctions were announced
against nine entities and
individuals including two Russian
intelligence agencies, the GRU and
the FSB
Mr Obama, who will be replaced by
Donald Trump on 20 January, had
vowed action against Russia amid US
accusations that it directed cyber-
attacks on the Democratic Party and
Hillary Clinton's campaign.
Emails stolen from her campaign
manager and from the servers of the
Democratic National Committee -
some containing embarrassing
information for Democrats - were
released during the election campaign.



http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38464612