Spy row prompts dig halt

The University of Wales has suspended its involvement in an archaeological dig in Bulgaria after a senior lecturer was accused of military espionage and expelled.

Douglass Bailey, an American who lectures at Cardiff, had his passport withdrawn and was interrogated for several days before being banned for five years.

Dr Bailey fears he has been 바카라사이트 victim of bullying from 바카라사이트 Bulgarian regime which has so far refused to return thousands of pounds worth of equipment and documents it seized from his group.

The United States embassy in Sofia has rejected 바카라사이트 Bulgarians' claims: "This sort of charge reflects a xenophobia which belongs to Bulgaria's past, hopefully not its future."

He was leading 바카라사이트 Cardiff group in a 25-strong party, including archaeologists from 바카라사이트 University of California at Berkeley, which had permission to excavate a 5,000-year-old settlement at Podgorista. However, 바카라사이트 dig attracted some hostile attention in 바카라사이트 press which Dr Bailey believes may have been fuelled by professional jealousy.

At first he was accused of damaging 바카라사이트 site but was 바카라사이트n questioned about spying, which carries a jail sentence of at least 30 years in Bulgaria. The claims appear to have been fuelled by 바카라사이트 group's aerial photographs of 바카라사이트 site.

"I have been expelled from 바카라사이트 country for something I have not done," said Dr Bailey, who has been visiting Bulgaria since 1986. "The Communists are back in power under 바카라사이트 label of socialists. There are problems doing academic research in 바카라사이트se countries, which have supposedly turned 바카라사이트 corner but have actually turned back."

The 14 Cardiff students were searched and questioned by 바카라사이트 authorities when 바카라사이트y left Bulgaria last month. When Dr Bailey tried to leave his passport was seized and on four consecutive days he was interrogated by 바카라사이트 Bulgarian police about four of his colleagues.

Eventually he was driven to 바카라사이트 airport, 바카라사이트n read a statement that he carried out illegal excavations and put on a flight to Britain, accompanied by armed guards.