US to ask Cuba to drastically cut staff at embassy

The US will either ask or order the Cuban government to reduce its staff at the Cuban embassy in Washington, according to several media reports citing sources from the US administration.

Those reports come less than a week after the US reduced its diplomatic presence in Havana following mysterious attacks on US personnel in Cuba, Voice of America (VOA) reported on Tuesday.

A US State Department official told VOA to "stay tuned" when asked if an announcement on the matter would be made Tuesday.

The US will ask Cuba to withdraw 60 percent of its staff from Washington.

On Friday, the State Department announced it would pull all non-essential diplomatic personnel out of Cuba in response to "health attacks" on 21 American diplomats in Havana.

Over the past several months those employees reported a variety of symptoms, including hearing loss, dizziness, cognitive issues and trouble sleeping. In a statement announcing the US draw down, Secretary of State Rex TIllerson said investigators couldn't determine the cause of those health issues or who might be responsible.

Source: MENA