Washington: The Trump administration on Tuesday ordered the expulsion of 15 diplomats from Cuba's embassy in Washington following last week's US move to pull more than half of its own diplomats out of Havana, a State Department official said.

The US decisions were based on the Cuban government's failure to do enough to protect American personnel in Cuba who have been targeted in "mysterious attacks" that have damaged their health, the official told reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity. The Cuban diplomats have been given seven days to leave.

The steps being taken by President Donald Trump's administration mark a further blow to his predecessor Barack Obama's policy of rapprochement between Washington and Havana, former Cold War foes.

Reuters