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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Litvinenko suspect talks continue | Litvinenko suspect talks continue |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The UK is continuing negotiations with Russia over its desire to extradite a businessman over the murder of Alexander Litvinenko in London. | |
| Tony Blair has said the UK will not "shy away" from seeking justice. | Tony Blair has said the UK will not "shy away" from seeking justice. |
| But the Kremlin maintains Russia's constitution does not allow it to hand over former KGB man Andrei Lugovoi, who denies any involvement in the killing. | But the Kremlin maintains Russia's constitution does not allow it to hand over former KGB man Andrei Lugovoi, who denies any involvement in the killing. |
| Mr Litvinenko, 43, died in London on 23 November after exposure to the radioactive isotope polonium-210. | Mr Litvinenko, 43, died in London on 23 November after exposure to the radioactive isotope polonium-210. |
| He was a critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin and was granted political asylum in the UK in 2000. | He was a critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin and was granted political asylum in the UK in 2000. |
| 'Full co-operation' | 'Full co-operation' |
| The UK's director of public prosecutions has recommended Mr Lugovoi be extradited to stand trial for the murder of Mr Litvinenko by "deliberate poisoning". | The UK's director of public prosecutions has recommended Mr Lugovoi be extradited to stand trial for the murder of Mr Litvinenko by "deliberate poisoning". |
| The formal submission of the UK's extradition request is expected to take place before the end of the week. | The formal submission of the UK's extradition request is expected to take place before the end of the week. |
| Andrei Lugovoi has strongly denied involvement | Andrei Lugovoi has strongly denied involvement |
| In Moscow, the prosecutor-general's office said Russian citizens could not be extradited to a foreign country but could appear in a domestic court "with evidence provided by the foreign state". | In Moscow, the prosecutor-general's office said Russian citizens could not be extradited to a foreign country but could appear in a domestic court "with evidence provided by the foreign state". |
| However, Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett has said she expects "full co-operation" from the Russian authorities. | However, Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett has said she expects "full co-operation" from the Russian authorities. |
| Tony Blair's official spokesman said people should wait and see what Russia's "considered legal response" was to a formal extradition request. | Tony Blair's official spokesman said people should wait and see what Russia's "considered legal response" was to a formal extradition request. |
| Exiled Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky, who the UK has refused to send back to Russia, said Mr Lugovoi will never be allowed to face trial in the UK. | Exiled Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky, who the UK has refused to send back to Russia, said Mr Lugovoi will never be allowed to face trial in the UK. |
| The vocal critic of the Moscow regime also said he had no doubt President Putin had directly authorised the murder of Mr Litvinenko. | The vocal critic of the Moscow regime also said he had no doubt President Putin had directly authorised the murder of Mr Litvinenko. |
| The Kremlin has previously dismissed such suggestions as "nonsense". | The Kremlin has previously dismissed such suggestions as "nonsense". |
| I don't understand what proof they have or what motive they think I might have - or, indeed, how I could have done it Andrei Lugovoi | I don't understand what proof they have or what motive they think I might have - or, indeed, how I could have done it Andrei Lugovoi |
| "It is impossible to produce polonium without state support and impossible to transport polonium... without state support," Mr Berezovsky said. | "It is impossible to produce polonium without state support and impossible to transport polonium... without state support," Mr Berezovsky said. |
| "It can't have happened without his personal involvement and that's exactly what Alexander told me in the hospital. | "It can't have happened without his personal involvement and that's exactly what Alexander told me in the hospital. |
| "Because of that, Lugovoi will never be extradited to London, and on the other hand I think Lugovoi's life is in danger, because it is absolutely the typical KGB way to solve the problem, to kill the witness of the crime." | "Because of that, Lugovoi will never be extradited to London, and on the other hand I think Lugovoi's life is in danger, because it is absolutely the typical KGB way to solve the problem, to kill the witness of the crime." |
| On Tuesday Mr Lugovoi maintained the UK's request was "politically motivated" and described himself as a "victim not a perpetrator of a radiation attack" while in London. | On Tuesday Mr Lugovoi maintained the UK's request was "politically motivated" and described himself as a "victim not a perpetrator of a radiation attack" while in London. |
| Polonium trail | Polonium trail |
| Mr Lugovoi told Russian television: "I've said it before and I'll say it again - my family and myself were attacked when we were in the UK. | Mr Lugovoi told Russian television: "I've said it before and I'll say it again - my family and myself were attacked when we were in the UK. |
| "I think today's charges are completely inadequate. I don't understand what proof they have or what motive they think I might have - or, indeed, how I could have done it. | "I think today's charges are completely inadequate. I don't understand what proof they have or what motive they think I might have - or, indeed, how I could have done it. |
| "So I'm deeply surprised about the inadequate actions of the British law enforcement bodies." | "So I'm deeply surprised about the inadequate actions of the British law enforcement bodies." |
| Mr Lugovoi had met Mr Litvinenko on the day he fell ill. | Mr Lugovoi had met Mr Litvinenko on the day he fell ill. |
| Polonium-210 was found in a string of places Mr Lugovoi visited in London, but he has insisted he was a witness and a victim but not a suspect. | Polonium-210 was found in a string of places Mr Lugovoi visited in London, but he has insisted he was a witness and a victim but not a suspect. |