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| Russian faces Litvinenko charge | Russian faces Litvinenko charge |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A former KGB officer should be charged with the murder of Alexander Litvinenko, the director of public prosecutions has recommended. | A former KGB officer should be charged with the murder of Alexander Litvinenko, the director of public prosecutions has recommended. |
| Sir Ken Macdonald said that Andrei Lugovoi, who has denied involvement in the death, should face trial. | Sir Ken Macdonald said that Andrei Lugovoi, who has denied involvement in the death, should face trial. |
| Mr Litvinenko, a critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, died in London in November 2006. | Mr Litvinenko, a critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, died in London in November 2006. |
| Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said she had told the Russian ambassador that she expects "full co-operation". | Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said she had told the Russian ambassador that she expects "full co-operation". |
| 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. | 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. |
| '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 CPS statement on Litvinenko | |
| 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 2006. | 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 2006. |
| He had been exposed to the radioactive isotope polonium-210. | He had been exposed to the radioactive isotope polonium-210. |
| Sir Ken told the press 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 the press 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 investigation | International investigation |
| Mr Litvinenko's widow Marina said that she welcomed the decision. | Mr Litvinenko's widow Marina said that she welcomed the decision. |
| Andrei 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." |
| However, the Russian prosecutor-general's office has said it will not hand over Mr Lugovoi, the Interfax news agency reported. | |
| The counter-terrorism command of the Metropolitan Police has been conducting a detailed international investigation into his death. | The counter-terrorism command of the Metropolitan Police has been conducting a detailed international investigation into his 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 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. |
| 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. |
| The Prime Minister's official spokesman said that the Foreign Office permanent under secretary has 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 has met with the Russian Ambassador to "underline that they should comply with the extradition request". |
| He added and that the government has "left nobody in any doubt at all as to the seriousness with which we view this case". | He added and that the government has "left nobody in any doubt at all as to the seriousness with which we view this case". |