Prague - Two Russian diplomats have been ordered to leave the Czech Republic on suspicion of having spied, the idnes. cz internet newspaper reported Tuesday.

A Czech Foreign Ministry spokesman declined confirmation, saying that "the ministry is not commenting on the matter".

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke of a "provocation", according to RIA Novosti news agency in Moscow. Czech Prime Minister Jan Fischer declined comment.

The idnes. cz report said the deputy defence attache had been directly ordered out of the country, while another diplomat who was on holiday had been told not to return to the Czech Republic.

The Czech BIS secret service has regularly mentioned Russian spying activities in its annual reports - specifically, those allegedly related to US plans for a missile defence system, part of which would be based in the Czech Republic. (dpa)