European Union members are pulling all their ambassadors from Belarus after its the authoritarian government ordered the Polish and EU ambassadors out of the country.

Belarus ordered the envoys to leave in reaction to new EU sanctions imposed against Belarusian officials because of that country's poor human rights record.

A Belarusian foreign ministry spokesman says the country will not cave in under pressure and will continue to defend its interests.

German foreign minister Guido Westerwelle calls Belarus Europe's last dictatorship. He says President Alexander Lukashenko only fools himself if he thinks he can divide the EU.

State Department spokesman Mark Toner says the United States it deeply regrets Belarus' decision to expel the Polish and EU ambassadors. He says such moves only deepen Belarus' self-isolation.

The EU and United States increased sanctions on Belarus after the violent crackdown on the opposition following the December 2010 presidential election. Hundreds were arrested including a number of opposition candidates.

Human rights groups say many of those arrested are still in jail.

Mr. Lukashenko won reelection in a vote many opposition members say was fraudulent.