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Russian faces Litvinenko charge Russian faces Litvinenko charge
(40 minutes later)
A former KGB officer should be charged with the murder by poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko, the UK's director of public prosecutions has recommended. A Russian former KGB officer should be charged with the murder by poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko, the UK's director of public prosecutions has recommended.
Sir Ken Macdonald said Andrei Lugovoi, who has denied any involvement, should face trial for the "grave crime".Sir Ken Macdonald said Andrei Lugovoi, who has denied any involvement, should face trial for the "grave crime".
Mr Litvinenko, 43, an ex-FSB agent and a critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, died in London last November.Mr Litvinenko, 43, an ex-FSB agent and a critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, died in London last November.
Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said she had told the Russian ambassador that she expected "full co-operation". But a spokesman for the Kremlin said Russia's constitution did not allow its nationals to be extradited.
However, the Russian prosecutor-general's office has said it will not hand over Mr Lugovoi, the Interfax news agency reported. 'Awaiting action'
Lord Goldsmith, the Attorney General, said he agreed with the decision by the Crown Prosecution Service, which had been arrived at after consultation with him. A spokesman added it was waiting for the "British side to actually do something rather than make statements".
The Russian general prosecution service also said there was "no way" Mr Lugovoi could be extradited because of constitutional constraints.
But the service's spokesman added that a Russian citizen who had committed a crime in another country "should be prosecuted in Russia with evidence provided by the foreign state".
Earlier UK Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said she had told the Russian ambassador that she expected "full co-operation" with regards extraditing Mr Lugovoi.
The decision to prosecute was arrived at by the Crown Prosecution Service after consultation with Attorney General Lord Goldsmith, who advises the government on legal issues.
'Public interest''Public interest'
I have instructed CPS lawyers to take immediate steps to seek the early extradition of Andrei Lugovoi from Russia Sir Ken Macdonald class="" href="/1/hi/uk/6679873.stm">CPS statement on Litvinenko Mr Litvinenko, who was granted political asylum in the UK in 2000 after leaving Russia and went on to take British citizenship, died at University College Hospital on 23 November.
Mr Litvinenko, who was granted political asylum in the UK in 2000 and went on to take British citizenship, died at University College Hospital on 23 November.
He had been exposed to the radioactive isotope polonium-210.He had been exposed to the radioactive isotope polonium-210.
I have instructed CPS lawyers to take immediate steps to seek the early extradition of Andrei Lugovoi from Russia Sir Ken Macdonald CPS statement on Litvinenko
Sir Ken told a news conference: "I have today concluded that the evidence sent to us by the police is sufficient to charge Andrei Lugovoi with the murder of Mr Litvinenko by deliberate poisoning.Sir Ken told a news conference: "I have today concluded that the evidence sent to us by the police is sufficient to charge Andrei Lugovoi with the murder of Mr Litvinenko by deliberate poisoning.
"I have further concluded that a prosecution of this case would clearly be in the public interest."I have further concluded that a prosecution of this case would clearly be in the public interest.
"In those circumstances, I have instructed CPS lawyers to take immediate steps to seek the early extradition of Andrei Lugovoi from Russia to the United Kingdom, so that he may be charged with murder - and be brought swiftly before a court in London to be prosecuted for this extraordinarily grave crime.""In those circumstances, I have instructed CPS lawyers to take immediate steps to seek the early extradition of Andrei Lugovoi from Russia to the United Kingdom, so that he may be charged with murder - and be brought swiftly before a court in London to be prosecuted for this extraordinarily grave crime."
International investigationInternational investigation
Mr Litvinenko's widow Marina said that she welcomed the decision on what was a "big day" for her.Mr Litvinenko's widow Marina said that she welcomed the decision on what was a "big day" for her.
Andrei Lugovoi has strongly denied involvement Andrei Lugovoi accusedAndrei Lugovoi has strongly denied involvement Andrei Lugovoi accused
She said: "I am now very anxious to see that justice is really done and that Mr Lugovoi is extradited and brought to trial in a UK court."She said: "I am now very anxious to see that justice is really done and that Mr Lugovoi is extradited and brought to trial in a UK court."
She added that any court case should be held in Britain, and that she believed more than one person was responsible for her husband's death.She added that any court case should be held in Britain, and that she believed more than one person was responsible for her husband's death.
The counter-terrorism command of the Metropolitan Police has been conducting a detailed international investigation into Mr Litvinenko's death. The counter-terrorism command of the Metropolitan Police has been conducting a detailed international investigation into Mr Litvinenko's death. The police inquiry, during which officers followed a trail of polonium radioactivity at a series of locations visited by Mr Litvinenko in London before he died, eventually took them to Moscow.
The police inquiry, during which officers followed a trail of polonium radioactivity at a series of locations visited by Mr Litvinenko in London before he died, eventually took them to Moscow.
His friends, including London-based Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky, have accused the Kremlin of ordering his assassination but the Russian government has rejected such claims.His friends, including London-based Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky, have accused the Kremlin of ordering his assassination but the Russian government has rejected such claims.
Police passed a file to the Crown Prosecution Service in January.Police passed a file to the Crown Prosecution Service in January.
A period of tense relations between Britain and Russia is expected Paul ReynoldsWorld affairs correspondent, BBC News website 'Stand-off' over spy caseA period of tense relations between Britain and Russia is expected Paul ReynoldsWorld affairs correspondent, BBC News website 'Stand-off' over spy case
Diplomatic relations between Russia and the UK have been strained by the case. Diplomatic relations between Russia and the UK have been strained by the case and BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera said it was hard to see how Mr Lugovoi could be extradited given Moscow's attitude.
BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera said it was hard to see how Mr Lugovoi could be extradited given Moscow's attitude. Prime Minister Tony Blair's official spokesman said the Foreign Office permanent under-secretary had met with the Russian ambassador to "underline that they should comply with the extradition request".
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said that the Foreign Office permanent under-secretary had met with the Russian Ambassador to "underline that they should comply with the extradition request".
He added the government has "left nobody in any doubt at all as to the seriousness with which we view this case".He added the government has "left nobody in any doubt at all as to the seriousness with which we view this case".