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Spy death 'a political campaign' Agent's death 'used politically'
(about 2 hours later)
Russia's foreign minister has accused the "British side" of using the murder of former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko for a "political campaign".Russia's foreign minister has accused the "British side" of using the murder of former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko for a "political campaign".
Sergei Lavrov said the UK's efforts to extradite the prime suspect in the case, Andrei Lugovoi, were harming relations between the two countries.Sergei Lavrov said the UK's efforts to extradite the prime suspect in the case, Andrei Lugovoi, were harming relations between the two countries.
The Foreign Office rejected the claims and insisted the murder was a "very serious criminal matter".The Foreign Office rejected the claims and insisted the murder was a "very serious criminal matter".
Mr Litvinenko was fatally poisoned with radioactive polonium-210 in London.Mr Litvinenko was fatally poisoned with radioactive polonium-210 in London.
On Thursday, Mr Lugovoi accused British secret services of playing a part in the murder.On Thursday, Mr Lugovoi accused British secret services of playing a part in the murder.
He told a Moscow news conference that he was a scapegoat and said MI6 had recruited Mr Litvinenko, and had also tried to recruit him, to collect information on Russian President Vladimir Putin.He told a Moscow news conference that he was a scapegoat and said MI6 had recruited Mr Litvinenko, and had also tried to recruit him, to collect information on Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The UK has requested Mr Lugovoi's extradition in connection with the crime, but the Russian constitution forbids it from extraditing its own citizens.The UK has requested Mr Lugovoi's extradition in connection with the crime, but the Russian constitution forbids it from extraditing its own citizens.
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 eventsKEY 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
Russia's foreign minister said the matter was harming diplomatic relations.Russia's foreign minister said the matter was harming diplomatic relations.
"Such an effect is being felt, because we see attempts from the British side to use the criminal case to build up some sort of political campaign," Mr Lavrov said."Such an effect is being felt, because we see attempts from the British side to use the criminal case to build up some sort of political campaign," Mr Lavrov said.
"We are against that. It is the business of the law enforcement agencies.""We are against that. It is the business of the law enforcement agencies."
But a spokesman for the Foreign Office said: "We have no desire to aggravate diplomatic relations.But a spokesman for the Foreign Office said: "We have no desire to aggravate diplomatic relations.
"We have consistently said that the murder of Mr Litvinenko is a which put hundreds of British citizens and visitors to the capital at risk." "We have consistently said that the murder of Mr Litvinenko is a very serious criminal matter which put hundreds of British citizens and visitors to the capital at risk."
'Kremlin link''Kremlin link'
Mr Litvinenko died in November 2006 and later polonium-210 was found in a string of places that Mr Lugovoi visited in London.Mr Litvinenko died in November 2006 and later polonium-210 was found in a string of places that Mr Lugovoi visited in London.
He has insisted he was a witness, not a suspect in the case.He has insisted he was a witness, not a suspect in the case.
Instead, he said MI6, the Russian mafia, or fugitive Kremlin opponent Boris Berezovsky were behind the killing.Instead, he said MI6, the Russian mafia, or fugitive Kremlin opponent Boris Berezovsky were behind the killing.
We have no desire to aggravate diplomatic relations UK Foreign OfficeWe have no desire to aggravate diplomatic relations UK Foreign Office
Mr Berezovsky, who has been granted asylum in Britain, has denied any involvement in Mr Litvinenko's death.Mr Berezovsky, who has been granted asylum in Britain, has denied any involvement in Mr Litvinenko's death.
On Thursday, he said that it was now "clearer than ever" that the Kremlin was behind the murder.On Thursday, he said that it was now "clearer than ever" that the Kremlin was behind the murder.
But Mr Lugovoi said he lacked the motive to kill Mr Litvinenko.But Mr Lugovoi said he lacked the motive to kill Mr Litvinenko.
"Sasha [Litvinenko] was not my enemy. I didn't feel cold or hot from whatever he was doing, from the books that he was writing."Sasha [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 said."I've been in business for a long time and I was not really interested," he said.