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| UK expels four Russian diplomats | UK expels four Russian diplomats |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The UK is to expel four diplomats from the Russian embassy in London after Moscow refused to extradite the suspect in the murder of Alexander Litvinenko. | The UK is to expel four diplomats from the Russian embassy in London after Moscow refused to extradite the suspect in the murder of Alexander Litvinenko. |
| Foreign Secretary David Miliband also said co-operation with Russia on a range of issues was under review. | Foreign Secretary David Miliband also said co-operation with Russia on a range of issues was under review. |
| Prosecutors want Andrei Lugovoi, an ex-KGB officer, to face trial in the UK. He denies involvement. | Prosecutors want Andrei Lugovoi, an ex-KGB officer, to face trial in the UK. He denies involvement. |
| Former KGB agent Mr Litvinenko died of exposure to radioactive polonium-210 in London in November 2006. | Former KGB agent Mr Litvinenko died of exposure to radioactive polonium-210 in London in November 2006. |
| The Foreign Office has not named the four Russian diplomats, but the BBC understands they are intelligence officers. | |
| Mr Miliband told MPs Russia was an important ally and the situation was one that Britain had "not sought and does not welcome". | |
| 'Extremely disappointing' | |
| But he said it was necessary to send a "clear and proportionate signal" to Russia, about the seriousness with which Britain regarded the matter. | |
| "Visa facilitation negotiations" have also been suspended, he said. | |
| Under the Council of Europe European Convention on Extradition 1957, the Russians have the right to refuse the extradition of a citizen. | |
| But Mr Miliband said the refusal had been "extremely disappointing" and both the UN and EU had reported concerns that Russia was applying the law selectively. | |
| The Convention gives the UK the right to request that the investigation be taken on by the Russian authorities. | |
| However, Sir Ken Macdonald, the UK's director of public prosecutions, rejected an offer from Moscow to try Mr Lugovoi in Russia. |