Ireland expels Russian diplomat

Ireland says it is expelling a Russian diplomat, joining more than 20 other nations in punishing Moscow for the poisoning of former spy Sergei Skripal.

Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said today that the nerve-agent attack on Skripal and his daughter Yulia was a "shocking and abhorrent" use of chemical weapons.

He said the Russian ambassador in Dublin has been informed that one diplomat from his embassy must leave Ireland.

Britain and Russia have expelled 23 of each other's diplomats since the March 4 attack, which the U.K. blames on Moscow.

British Prime Minister Theresa May says 23 other countries have expelled more than 115 Russian diplomats, including 60 kicked out by the United States.

Russia denies responsibility and has vowed a "tough response" to the expulsions.

A top Russian diplomat says Moscow is preparing a "tough response" to today's announcement by the United States that it is expelling 60 Russian diplomats.

The United States, European Union nations and some other countries announced today they would expel a total of more than 130 Russian diplomats in response to the nerve agent attack on a former Russian intelligence officer and his daughter in Britain.

Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia remain in critical condition in the hospital in the English city of Salisbury after being exposed to what British authorities say was a Soviet-made military-grade nerve agent on March 4.

Australia has become the latest country to announce that it is expelling Russian diplomats in response to the recent nerve agent attack on a former Russian military intelligence officer and his daughter in Britain.