MOSCOW: The Russian foreign ministry announced Saturday it will expel 23 British diplomats within a week in a tit-for-tat response to London´s measures over the poisoning of a former Russian double agent and his daughter.

"Twenty three diplomatic staff at the British embassy in Moscow are declared persona non grata and to be expelled within a week," the foreign ministry said in a statement after summoning the British ambassador Laurie Bristow.

British Council

Russia said Saturday it was halting the activities of the British Council across the country in response to Britain´s measures over the poisoning of a former Russian double agent and his daughter.

"Due to the unregulated status of the British Council in Russia, its activity is halted," the foreign ministry said in a statement referring to Britain´s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities.