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Russia warns UK over expulsions Russia warns UK over expulsions
(about 1 hour later)
Russia's deputy foreign minister has said Britain's expulsion of four of its diplomats from London could jeopardise co-operation on counter-terrorism. Russia's deputy foreign minister has said Britain's expulsion of four diplomats from London could jeopardise co-operation on counter-terrorism.
Alexander Grushko said the move - a response to the Alexander Litvinenko murder row - would complicate "vitally important" security issues.Alexander Grushko said the move - a response to the Alexander Litvinenko murder row - would complicate "vitally important" security issues.
He added: "We are being punished for observing our own constitution."He added: "We are being punished for observing our own constitution."
A full response is expected later from Moscow, which has warned Britain to expect "serious consequences". Downing Street said once it received a formal response from Moscow, it would be "considered carefully".
The expulsion of four diplomats follows Moscow's refusal to hand over former KGB agent Andrei Lugovoi who is accused of murdering Mr Litvinenko in London last year. Mr Lugovoi denies involvement. A full statement is expected later from Moscow, which has warned Britain to expect "serious consequences".
KGB agent
The expulsion of four diplomats follows Moscow's refusal to hand over former KGB agent Andrei Lugovoi, who is accused of murdering Mr Litvinenko in London last year. Mr Lugovoi denies involvement.
Mr Grushko said if Russia had expelled four diplomats for every extradition request Britain had turned down recently, it would mean 80 UK diplomats being sent home.
It is obvious that the policy which is being pursued by Britain is going to complicate the terrorist, the security issues Alexander GrushkoIt is obvious that the policy which is being pursued by Britain is going to complicate the terrorist, the security issues Alexander Grushko
Mr Grushko said if Russia expelled four diplomats for every extradition request Britain had turned down recently, it would mean 80 UK diplomats being sent home. He said London had said it would not maintain contacts with Russia's Federal Security Service.
He said London had said it would not maintain contacts with Russia's Federal Security Service, but had also said it was prepared to co-operate on counter-terrorism. However, the UK had said it was prepared to co-operate on counter-terrorism, he added.
'No apologies'
"These are mutually exclusive statements taking into account the central role the federal security service takes in fighting terrorism both internationally and domestically," said Mr Grushko."These are mutually exclusive statements taking into account the central role the federal security service takes in fighting terrorism both internationally and domestically," said Mr Grushko.
"It is obvious that the policy which is being pursued by Britain is going to complicate the terrorist, the security issues, which are vitally relevant and important for Britain and Russia and the wider world.""It is obvious that the policy which is being pursued by Britain is going to complicate the terrorist, the security issues, which are vitally relevant and important for Britain and Russia and the wider world."
We don't want to be provoked into a ping-pong game Dmitri PeskovSpokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/6901636.stm">Analysis: Will the spat widen? class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/6902386.stm">Russian media annoyed class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/6902592.stm">Russia-UK disputes 'Powder dry'
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on Monday Britain would make "no apologies" for expelling the four Russians. He also said the visa measures announcements would make things difficult for ordinary Russians - the UK has said they would only affect government-sponsored visas, not those of ordinary Russians.
He said he wanted a "good relationship" with Russia but said that because "there is no forthcoming co-operation, then action has to be taken". BBC correspondent James Rodgers in Moscow said the statement appeared to be a measured approach, rather than a retaliatory measure.
The Foreign Office has not named the four Russian diplomats, but the BBC understands they are intelligence officers. He said it seemed aimed at making the British seem unreasonable, and Moscow appeared to be "keeping its powder dry".
it's important that the very, very deeply unsatisfactory nature of this event is well demonstrated Sir Malcolm RifkindFormer foreign secretary Analysis: Will the spat widen? Russian media annoyed Russia-UK disputes
Prime Minister Gordon Brown's official spokesman said he had not yet received a formal response from Moscow.
He added: "It's entirely a matter for the Russians how and when they do respond. We haven't seen any response.
"We think this individual should be extradited and should stand trial in a British court."
'Absolutely clear''Absolutely clear'
The BBC's James Rodgers in Moscow said the expulsions would not go unanswered and that the two countries were "facing off" in way not seen since the end of the Cold War.
Mr Litvinenko, another former KGB agent, died of exposure to radioactive polonium-210 in London in November 2006.Mr Litvinenko, another former KGB agent, died of exposure to radioactive polonium-210 in London in November 2006.
The radioactive isotope used to poison him was found in several places that Mr Lugovoi had visited in London.The radioactive isotope used to poison him was found in several places that Mr Lugovoi had visited in London.
KEY EVENTS IN CASE 1 November 2006: Alexander Litvinenko meets Andrei Lugovoi and another Russian at a London hotel 23 November 2006: Litvinenko dies in a London hospital24 November 2006: A Litvinenko statement accuses Russian President Vladimir Putin of involvement in his death. Experts say Litvinenko was poisoned 6 December 2006: UK police say they are treating the death as murder 22 May 2007: Lugovoi should be charged with Litvinenko's murder, British prosecutors say 28 May 2007: UK makes formal request for Lugovoi's extradition from Russia Full timeline of events Send us your reaction
But Mr Lugovoi told Russian television that the outcome of the inquiry had been predetermined.But Mr Lugovoi told Russian television that the outcome of the inquiry had been predetermined.
He said: "The British authorities have in effect emphasised yet again that the Litvinenko case actually has a political subtext. KEY EVENTS IN CASE 1 November 2006: Alexander Litvinenko meets Andrei Lugovoi and another Russian at a London hotel 23 November 2006: Litvinenko dies in a London hospital24 November 2006: A Litvinenko statement accuses Russian President Vladimir Putin of involvement in his death. Experts say Litvinenko was poisoned 6 December 2006: UK police say they are treating the death as murder 22 May 2007: Lugovoi should be charged with Litvinenko's murder, British prosecutors say 28 May 2007: UK makes formal request for Lugovoi's extradition from Russia class="" href="/1/hi/uk/6179074.stm">Full timeline of events class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=6856&edition=2&ttl=20070716165636">Send us your reaction
"In all the eight months that this row has been developing in earnest, I have not received a single official invitation from the official British authorities, and all those statements that the investigation was carried out competently are lies." He said: "The British authorities have in effect emphasised yet again that the Litvinenko case actually has a political subtext."
Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitri Peskov said: "We don't want to be provoked into a ping-pong game, although of course the Russian side will provide a necessary response."Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitri Peskov said: "We don't want to be provoked into a ping-pong game, although of course the Russian side will provide a necessary response."
Mr Litvinenko's widow Marina said she was "very grateful" for the British government's actions and "proud to be a UK citizen".
Under the European Convention on Extradition 1957, the Russians have the right to refuse the extradition of a citizen.Under the European Convention on Extradition 1957, the Russians have the right to refuse the extradition of a citizen.
The UK has the right to request Mr Lugovoi be tried in Russia, but the UK's director of public prosecutions, Sir Ken Macdonald, has already turned down the offer.The UK has the right to request Mr Lugovoi be tried in Russia, but the UK's director of public prosecutions, Sir Ken Macdonald, has already turned down the offer.
The Conservative MP Sir Malcolm Rifkind was foreign secretary the last time Russian diplomats were expelled. The Conservative MP Sir Malcolm Rifkind was foreign secretary the last time Russian diplomats were expelled and backed the government's response.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It's important that the Russians, if they do choose to behave in this way... realise that there is a price and that price is the embarrassment, the inconvenience the difficulties caused by the expulsion of their diplomats," he said. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Of course it will not produce the result we would ideally like, but it's important that the very, very deeply unsatisfactory nature of this event is well demonstrated."
"Of course it will not produce the result we would ideally like, but it's important that the very, very deeply unsatisfactory nature of this event is well demonstrated."
The UK's director of public prosecutions has recommended Mr Lugovoi be tried for murder by "deliberate poisoning".The UK's director of public prosecutions has recommended Mr Lugovoi be tried for murder by "deliberate poisoning".