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UK tried to recruit me - Lugovoi UK 'behind Litvinenko poisoning'
(20 minutes later)
The man suspected of poisoning ex-KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko in London last year has said the British secret service tried to recruit him. The man suspected of poisoning ex-KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko has said it could not have happened without the involvement of the UK secret services.
Speaking at a Moscow press conference Andrei Lugovoi, who denies the charges, said he had been made a scapegoat. Speaking at a Moscow news conference Andrei Lugovoi, who denies the accusation, said he was a scapegoat.
Mr Lugovoi said MI6 had recruited Mr Litvinenko, who in turn tried to recruit him to collect information on Russian President Vladimir Putin. Mr Lugovoi said MI6 had recruited Mr Litvinenko, and had tried to recruit him to collect information on Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Last week, the UK requested Mr Lugovoi's extradition over the crime.Last week, the UK requested Mr Lugovoi's extradition over the crime.
But the Russian constitution forbids it from extraditing its own citizens.But the Russian constitution forbids it from extraditing its own citizens.
Mr Litvinenko died in November 2006 after exposure to the radioactive isotope polonium-210.Mr Litvinenko died in November 2006 after exposure to the radioactive isotope polonium-210.
'British involvement' 'No motive'
Mr Lugovoi, also an ex-KGB agent, said he was "openly recruited as the British security service agent. They asked me to collect any... compromising information about President Putin and the members of his family." Mr Lugovoi, himself an ex-KGB agent, said the poisoning could not have happened without some involvement from the British intelligence services.
He said he was initially asked to find economic information, but he said the large fees he was paid made him realise he was being recruited to do more than that. Sacha [Litvinenko] was not my enemy Andrei Lugovoi "Even if [British special services] hadn't done it itself, it was done under its control or connivance," he said, adding he had evidence of this, without giving details.
He went to say that he lacked the motive to kill Mr Litvinenko: "Sacha [Litvinenko] was not my enemy. I didn't feel cold or hot from whatever he was doing, from the books that he was writing. I've been in business for a long time and I was not really interested."
He also said the poisoning could not have happened without some involvement from the British intelligence services.
"Even if [British special services] hadn't done it itself, it was done under its control or connivance," he said, adding he had evidence of this, without giving details.
Mr Lugovoi said either MI6, the Russian mafia, or fugitive Kremlin opponent Boris Berezovsky carried out the killing.Mr Lugovoi said either MI6, the Russian mafia, or fugitive Kremlin opponent Boris Berezovsky carried out the killing.
"The main role," however, "is played by the British special services and their agents," he said."The main role," however, "is played by the British special services and their agents," he said.
Mr Lugovoi said he was "openly recruited as the British security service agent. They asked me to collect any... compromising information about President Putin and the members of his family."
He said he was initially asked to find economic information, but he said the large fees he was paid made him realise he was being recruited to do more than that.
He went to say that he lacked the motive to kill Mr Litvinenko: "Sacha [Litvinenko] was not my enemy. I didn't feel cold or hot from whatever he was doing, from the books that he was writing. I've been in business for a long time and I was not really interested."