Russia ordered three Lithuanian diplomats Tuesday to leave the country, apparently retaliating for Lithuania's expulsion of three Russian diplomats last month on suspicion of espionage

The three Lithuanian Embassy employees were ordered to leave within 48 hours because of "activity that is incompatible with diplomatic status and causes damage to Russian interests," Russia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement. It did not elaborate. In Lithuania's capital, Vilnius, Foreign Minister Antanas Valionis told The Associated Press the expulsion order was baseless. "There were no grounds to expel Lithuanian diplomats," Valionis said. "I hope this won't harm Lithuanian-Russian relations." Lithuania's Feb. 20 expulsion of three Russian diplomats fueled fears that Moscow could be increasing intelligence activities there ahead of the former Soviet Baltic republics' entry into the European Union (news - web sites) and NATO (news - web sites). Lithuania and six other former Soviet-bloc nations were welcomed as new NATO members Monday by President Bush. The Russians were accused of trying to gather information about the impeachment of Lithuanian President Rolandas Paksas "in an improper and illegal way." Paksas has been accused of having links to Russian organized crime. They also were accused of interfering in the Lithuanian privatization process. Since Lithuania gained independence in the 1991 Soviet collapse, Russian investors have bid for several key state-owned Lithuanian companies put up for auction, showing a particular interest in oil- and gas-related companies. Relations between Russia and its Baltic neighbors often have been strained, and there have been several incidents of retaliatory diplomatic expulsions. Moscow, which has accused the Baltic states of spying, had warned it could take action after the expulsion of the three Russians.