Quito, February 19 , SPA -- Ecuador expelled a US diplomat, the second one thismonth, accusing the US embassy's first officer, Mark Sullivan, ofbecoming involved in domestic and police affairs according to dpa. The government in Quito on Wednesday gave Sullivan 48 hours toleave the South American country. A statement from the ForeignMinistry said it hoped relations with the United States would not beadversely affected. The US State Department said Thursday that the decision was "verytroubling" and raised "serious concerns about Ecuador's desire tomaintain a productive relationship." "We reject any suggestion of wrongdoing by embassy staff. Ourembassy personnel have acted with utmost respect for Ecuador'ssovereignty," State Department spokesman Gordon Duguid said.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/637126