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Berezovsky tells of 'hitman plot' Berezovsky tells of 'hitman plot'
(about 3 hours later)
Exiled Russian billionaire Boris Berezovsky has claimed UK intelligence officers thwarted a plot to kill him.Exiled Russian billionaire Boris Berezovsky has claimed UK intelligence officers thwarted a plot to kill him.
Mr Berezovsky told the BBC he had been warned about the alleged plot by sources in Russia and Scotland Yard.Mr Berezovsky told the BBC he had been warned about the alleged plot by sources in Russia and Scotland Yard.
The Sun said a Russian hitman had been hired to execute him at a London hotel. Russia's ambassador to the UK said he was not aware of any such plot.The Sun said a Russian hitman had been hired to execute him at a London hotel. Russia's ambassador to the UK said he was not aware of any such plot.
UK-Russian relations are already strained in a row over a suspect in the Alexander Litvinenko murder case.UK-Russian relations are already strained in a row over a suspect in the Alexander Litvinenko murder case.
'Business reasons''Business reasons'
Mr Berezovsky, 61, who lives in London, told BBC Radio Five Live he was told that "someone who you know will come to Britain, he will try to connect to you, and when you meet him he will just kill you and will not try to hide".Mr Berezovsky, 61, who lives in London, told BBC Radio Five Live he was told that "someone who you know will come to Britain, he will try to connect to you, and when you meet him he will just kill you and will not try to hide".
The killer would then say the murder was "just because of business reasons", Mr Berezovsky said.The killer would then say the murder was "just because of business reasons", Mr Berezovsky said.
LUGOVOI EXTRADITION ROW Analysis: Will the spat widen? Russian media annoyed Russia-UK disputesLUGOVOI EXTRADITION ROW Analysis: Will the spat widen? Russian media annoyed Russia-UK disputes
"And in this case he will get 20 years, he will spend just 10 years in jail, he will be released, his family will be paid, he will be paid and so on," he added."And in this case he will get 20 years, he will spend just 10 years in jail, he will be released, his family will be paid, he will be paid and so on," he added.
Mr Berezovsky's spokeswoman said he had been informed of the alleged plot three weeks ago and had been advised to leave the country for a week. Mr Berezovsky later said he had been informed of the alleged plot by visiting friends from Russia and then by Scotland Yard three weeks ago. He claims the police advised him to leave the country for a week.
The Sun claims Britain's security services, MI5 and MI6, intercepted intelligence about the plot and the hitman was seized within the last two weeks.The Sun claims Britain's security services, MI5 and MI6, intercepted intelligence about the plot and the hitman was seized within the last two weeks.
It is not clear what has happened to the alleged hitman since neither police nor security officials have commented on the allegations. Mr Berezovsky said he believed the alleged assassin had been deported to Russia.
Neither police nor security officials have commented on the allegations.
'No involvement''No involvement'
Russia's ambassador to the UK, Yuri Fedotov, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme there was "nothing that could confirm" the plot.Russia's ambassador to the UK, Yuri Fedotov, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme there was "nothing that could confirm" the plot.
Asked if the Russian government was involved, he said: "It is excluded."Asked if the Russian government was involved, he said: "It is excluded."
Russian views on the diplomatic row with the UKIn picturesRussian views on the diplomatic row with the UKIn pictures
Mr Fedotov later told the BBC that Britain's decision to halt contact with Russia's Federal Security Service would harm its fight against terror.Mr Fedotov later told the BBC that Britain's decision to halt contact with Russia's Federal Security Service would harm its fight against terror.
The Foreign Office would not confirm or deny links had been broken, saying it did not comment on "matters of security". The Foreign Office would not confirm or deny links had been broken, saying it did not comment on matters of security.
The claims come after Britain expelled four Russian diplomats in the escalating row over the murder of ex-KGB agent Mr Litvinenko.The claims come after Britain expelled four Russian diplomats in the escalating row over the murder of ex-KGB agent Mr Litvinenko.
Moscow has refused to hand over the man suspected of the murder - Andrei Lugovoi, another former KGB agent. Mr Lugovoi denies involvement.Moscow has refused to hand over the man suspected of the murder - Andrei Lugovoi, another former KGB agent. Mr Lugovoi denies involvement.
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 reactionKEY 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
Russia says it is planning a "targeted and appropriate" response to the expulsions, adding that its constitution prevents it from extraditing its citizens to face trial in another country.Russia says it is planning a "targeted and appropriate" response to the expulsions, adding that its constitution prevents it from extraditing its citizens to face trial in another country.
Mr Berezovsky, a Kremlin insider during the rule of Boris Yeltsin and who openly confesses that he is on a mission to bring down President Vladimir Putin by means of a bloodless revolution, blames Mr Putin for the murder of Mr Litvinenko, with whom he was friends.Mr Berezovsky, a Kremlin insider during the rule of Boris Yeltsin and who openly confesses that he is on a mission to bring down President Vladimir Putin by means of a bloodless revolution, blames Mr Putin for the murder of Mr Litvinenko, with whom he was friends.
Mr Berezovsky has survived numerous assassination attempts and has been a wanted man in Russia, charged with fraud and political corruption, since 2001.Mr Berezovsky has survived numerous assassination attempts and has been a wanted man in Russia, charged with fraud and political corruption, since 2001.
Speaking on BBC2's Newsnight on Tuesday, Mr Berezovsky urged Mr Lugovoi to submit himself for trial in a third country like Germany, Denmark or Norway if he wanted to clear his name. Mr Berezovsky has urged Mr Lugovoi to submit himself for trial in a third country like Germany, Denmark or Norway if he wants to clear his name.
'Death by poisoning''Death by poisoning'
Mr Litvinenko died of exposure to radioactive polonium-210 in London in November 2006.Mr Litvinenko 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.
The director of public prosecutions in England and Wales, Sir Ken Macdonald, has recommended that Mr Lugovoi be tried for murder by "deliberate poisoning".The director of public prosecutions in England and Wales, Sir Ken Macdonald, has recommended that Mr Lugovoi be tried for murder by "deliberate poisoning".
Under the European Convention on Extradition 1957, Russia has the right to refuse the extradition of a citizen.Under the European Convention on Extradition 1957, Russia has the right to refuse the extradition of a citizen.