S&P 500 may face selling pressure as systematic funds reach full exposure
(Adds Eritrea reaction)
LAGOS, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Eritrea denounced a U.S. ban on
immigrant visas for its citizens as "unacceptable" on Saturday,
while Nigeria's government said it had created a committee to
address the issues that prompted U.S. President Donald Trump to
add the country to the ban.
Nigeria and Eritrea were among six countries, four of them
in Africa, added to an expanded version of the U.S. visa ban
announced on Friday in a presidential proclamation. U.S. officials said the countries failed to meet U.S.
security and information-sharing standards, which necessitated
the new restrictions.
"Nigeria remains committed to maintaining productive
relations with the United States and other international allies
especially on matters of global security," a Nigerian
presidential statement said.
Nigeria, the most populous nation in Africa, is the biggest
country on the list whose citizens will be suspended from U.S.
visas that can lead to permanent residency. Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan
and Myanmar were also slapped with a similar ban.
Nigeria's information minister told Reuters they had no
warning of their inclusion on the list before it appeared in the
media. L8N29W549
Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh Mohammed said the
government saw the ban as a political move that would hurt the
country's relations with the United States.
"We find this move unacceptable," he told Reuters by
telephone. "We will, however, not expel the U.S. ambassador," he
added.
The U.S. government also said it will stop issuing
"diversity visas" to nationals of Sudan and Tanzania.
The visas, which Trump has criticized, are available by
lottery for applicants from countries with low rates of
immigration.
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