Russia on Friday slammed Britain for encouraging European Union member states to support London over a spy poisoning row after they agreed to recall the bloc's envoy from Moscow for consultations.
In London they "are feverishly trying to force allies to take confrontational steps," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters on a visit to Hanoi, state news agency RIA Novosti reported.
British embassy staff in Moscow seen gathering before expulsion
British embassy employees gathered on the grounds of Britain's embassy in Moscow on Friday ahead of a Russian deadline for 23 diplomats to leave in retaliation for London's expulsion of the same number of Russian diplomats in a spy dispute.
A Reuters camera operator saw people embracing colleagues, ahead of the deadline for departure from Russia, and vehicles being readied on the grounds of the British embassy.
Russia expelled 23 British diplomats last Saturday in a carefully calibrated retaliatory move against London.
Denmark considering steps against Russia
Denmark is considering taking steps against Russia in response to the nerve agent attack in Salisbury in Britain, in addition to measures taken by the European Union, Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said Friday.
"The government will over the next few days very seriously consider if and how Denmark in addition to the decisions we have contributed to collectively can support Britain," Lokke Rasmussen told broadcaster TV 2 in Brussels.
The steps could include calling back Danish diplomats in Russia or expelling Russian diplomats in Denmark, according to TV2.
