The Yugoslav Government says it is temporarily closing its embassies in 13 countries, including Ghana, for economic reasons.

The Foreign Ministry said the closures were part of rationalising Yugoslavia's representation abroad, and that the duties of the closed embassies would be taken over by missions in neighbouring countries.

Although all sanctions against Yugoslavia have been lifted since the fall of the former President, Slobodan Milosevic, a year ago, the country is still facing serious economic problems.

The ministry said the closed embassies were in Chile, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Lebanon, Myanmar, North Korea, Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia and Zimbabwe.