CZECH REPUBLIC TELLS RUSSIA: LET OUR DIPLOMATS LEAVE MOSCOW

The Czech Republic's new foreign minister issued Russia an ultimatum amid a diplomatic stand-off with Moscow over blasts in 2014 and hours after he was sworn in by the president on Wednesday, Michael Heitmann reported for the Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa).

Social Democrat Jakub Kulhanek was sworn in by President Milos Zeman in Prague. Later, he called on Moscow to allow all 20 Czech diplomats to return by noon on Thursday after both countries expelled more than a dozen of each other's diplomats and embassy staff.

Otherwise, Kuhlanek said, the number of Russian diplomats accredited in Prague would be reduced to the same level. That would mean the expulsion of more than 20 further Russians, in practical terms.

The Czech Republic accuses Moscow of being responsible for explosions in an ammunition dump that killed two people in 2014.

Russia vehemently denies any involvement. As a result, both countries expelled more than a dozen of each other's diplomats and embassy staff.

Kulhanek also handed over a protest note to the Russian ambassador, Alexander Smejewski. Earlier, at the swearing-in ceremony, the president recommended that the new chief diplomat "defend national interests" without engaging in excessive nationalism.

Up until two-and-a-half weeks ago, Tomas Petricek, who was considered to be pro-Western, headed the Foreign Ministry in Prague.

He had to leave after losing a leadership struggle within the party. Interior Minister Jan Hamacek led the ministry on an interim basis.

The current stand-off is the most serious crisis between Russia and the Czech Republic in decades, according to observers.

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