May 9, 2003	Friday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 6, 1424

NEW DELHI, May 8: India has turned down a request by the United States to expel three Iraqi diplomats, whom the Washington administration perceives as a threat to its diplomatic personnel and facilities, a private Indian news channel said on Thursday.

The Zee News channel quoted the minister of state for foreign affairs, Digvijay Singh, as saying in the Rajya Sabha that the request had been turned down as there was no evidence that the Iraqi diplomats were engaging in activities “incompatible” with their diplomatic status.