DEPORTEES AT NAIROBI AIRPORT; ONE RUSSIAN SHRUGS OFF REPORTER; RUSSIANS WITH WIVES.




Initials JHS/V/JF/BB



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Background: THE KENYA GOVERNMENT YESTERDAY (THURSDAY) ORDERED FOUR DIPLOMATS AND TWO JOURNALISTS (FROM COMMUNIST COUNTRIES) TO LEAVE KENYA WITHIN 24 HOURS. AS THEY WERE PREPARING TO FLY OUT OF NAIROBI AIRPORT LAST NIGHT, THE DEPORTEES TOLD NEWSMEN THEY HAD NOT BEEN TOLD WHY THEY HAD BEEN EXPELLED.

THREE OF THE SIX DEPORTEES WERE TWO RUSSIAN DIPLOMATS AND A JOURNALIST. THE OTHERS WERE TWO CZECHS -- A DIPLOMAT AND JOURNALIST -- AND A CHINESE DIPLOMAT. THE TWO RUSSIAN DIPLOMATS WERE BOTH FIRST SECRETARIES AT THE RUSSIAN EMBASSY IN NAIROBI. THE JOURNALIST WAS A CORRESPONDENT FOR THE RUSSIAN NEWS AGENCY NOVOSTY. THE THREE RUSSIANS AND TWO CZECHS AND THEIR FAMILIES LEFT ON THE SAME AIRCRAFT FOR CAIRO ON THEIR WAY HOME. THE CHINESE DIPLOMAT LEFT EARLIER FOR CHINA VIA BOMBAY.

NO OFFICIAL REASON HAS YET BEEN GIVEN FOR THE DEPORTATION.