Barricades outside US embassy go

Delhi Police Tuesday removed barricades and allowed normal traffic around the US embassy as part of retaliatory steps following the arrest of an Indian diplomat in New York.

This was done on a day New Delhi sought unconditional apology from the US over the arrest of Devyani Khobragade.

According to a senior police officer, the barricades were removed in half hour with cranes following a request from the external affairs ministry.

But a police officer said routine security in and around the embassy remained in place.

The barricades outside the US embassy, located in the diplomatic enclave of Chanakyapuri, were placed years ago to ward off possible terrorist attacks.

Normal traffic was barred from the slip roads in front of the embassy and the visa office at the back of the chancery.