U.S. spy ordered to leave Germany
BERLIN – Germany on Thursday demanded Washington’s top spy in Berlin leave the country as a new round of allegations of U.S. espionage worsened the friction between the two allies.
The immediate trigger was the emergence of two new cases of alleged American spying.
“The representative of the U.S. intelligence services at the United States Embassy has been asked to leave Germany,” German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said in a statement.
White House press secretary Josh Earnest wouldn’t comment on Germany’s decision but said the U.S. takes intelligence matters “very seriously.”
Germany refused to identify the CIA station chief by name.
Rifts begin appearing among Ukraine militias
DONETSK, Ukraine – Deep strains emerged Thursday in the ranks of Ukraine’s pro-Russia insurgents, as dozens of militiamen turned in their weapons in disgust at Russian inaction and bickering broke out between rebel factions.
In the last two weeks, Ukrainian government troops have halved the amount of territory held by the rebels and grow better equipped and more confident by the day. Once fearful of losing further sections of Ukraine to neighboring Russia, they have shifted their strategy to containing the insurgents, whose pleas to join Russia have been ignored by President Vladimir Putin.
Pushed back into Ukraine’s eastern industrial city of Donetsk, the pro-Russia militias appear to be focusing their efforts now on hit-and-run operations, bombing transportation links and bracing for more Ukrainian government troop incursions.
Signs of a rift within the rebellion emerged Thursday after the head of the influential Vostok battalion announced he would not submit to the command of the military leader of the separatist Donetsk People’s Republic, Igor Girkin.
Associated press
