Even court judgments ordering diplomats to pay back rent cannot be enforced, so landlords apply pressure by cutting electricity, heat and sometimes phone service.

The United States Department of State ordered non-essential diplomats and embassy dependents out of Kuwait, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Damascus.

At the same time, Neurath ordered German diplomats to start drawing up legal briefs justifying remilitarization of the Rhineland under the grounds that the Franco-Soviet pact violated Locarno.

Secretary of State Colin Powell yesterday ordered American diplomats in the region to hold urgent consultations with Israeli and Palestinian leaders.

In another sign, the State Department said it had ordered nonessential diplomats and their families out of Kuwait, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Damascus.

According to the cables, the U.S. State Department ordered diplomats to spy on their Slovenian counterparts, with directives such as gaining their credit-card numbers and phone books.

A directive issued under Hillary Clinton's name last year ordered American diplomats to seek details about both UN communication systems and personal details for top officials.

The Russian government quickly responded in kind, ordering American diplomats to leave Moscow.

A leaked secret cable from the US state department ordered diplomats to find detailed intelligence on the UN leadership.

The Iraqi Government annexed Kuwait after its invasion Aug. 2 and ordered foreign diplomats to leave.