By Reuters | Updated:
Dec 30, 2016, 08.32 AM IST
HONOLULU/WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama on
Thursday ordered the expulsion of 35 Russian suspected spies and imposed
sanctions on two Russian intelligence agencies over their involvement in
hacking US political groups in the 2016 presidential election.
The measures, taken during the last days of Obama's
presidency, mark a new post-Cold War low in US-Russian ties and set up a
potential flashpoint between incoming President-elect Donald Trump and fellow
Republicans in Congress over how to deal with Moscow.
Obama, a Democrat, had promised consequences after US
intelligence officials blamed Russia for hacks intended to influence the 2016
election. Officials pointed the finger directly at Russian President Vladimir
Putin for personally directing the efforts and primarily targeting Democrats,
who put pressure on Obama to respond.
"These actions follow repeated private and
public warnings that we have issued to the Russian government, and are a
necessary and appropriate response to efforts to harm US interests in violation
of established international norms of behavior," Obama said in a statement
from Hawaii, where he is on vacation.
"All Americans should be alarmed by
Russia's actions," he said.
It was not clear whether Trump, who has
repeatedly praised Putin and nominated people seen as friendly toward Moscow to
senior administration posts, would seek to roll back the measures once he takes
office on Jan. 20.
Trump has brushed aside allegations from the CIA and other
intelligence agencies that Russia was behind the cyber attacks. He said on
Thursday he would meet with intelligence officials soon.
"It's time for our country to move on to
bigger and better things," Trump said in a statement.
"Nevertheless, in the interest of our
country and its great people, I will meet with leaders of the intelligence
community next week in order to be updated on the facts of this
situation," ..
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