Litvinenko widow wants EU action

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The widow of Alexander Litvinenko wants European leaders to pressure Russia's president to hand over the man accused of poisoning her husband.

Vladimir Putin has rejected calls from the UK government for the extradition of Andrei Lugovoi to stand trial.

Marina Litvinenko said the ongoing EU-Russia summit in Portugal is a prime opportunity to press Mr Putin.

Mr Lugovoi denies poisoning Mr Litvinenko with a rare radioactive by-product in London in 2006.

Mrs Litvinenko said in her appeal: "The British got enough evidence to ask to extradite Lugovoi. But it's not easy to stand in front of Russia, and the English just need the support of other European countries."

Mr Lugovoi claims he is being used as a scapegoat and Moscow says ongoing efforts to extradite him have hurt relations between the two countries.

Mr Litvinenko, a former KGB agent, died in November 2006 after exposure to the radioactive isotope polonium-210.

Not revenge

The Russian government has repeatedly refused to allow the extradition, saying it is banned under its constitution.

Mrs Litvinenko say she fears more lethal poisonings could occur outside Russia if action is not taken.

"I don't looking for revenge," she said of her motivation. "It's not only killing of my husband, it's using this radioactive material, showing how it was easy to use against people."

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 <a class="" href="/1/hi/uk/6179074.stm">Full timeline of events</a>

She said European nations must intervene to prevent further deaths.

"Somebody will use it again and again, and I hope all European countries and other countries will understand how it's dangerous."

The rare radioactive material that killed Mr Litvinenko was found in a string of places that Mr Lugovoi visited in London, but he has insisted that he was a witness, not a suspect in the case.

After being accused of the murder, Mr Lugovoi countered from his home in Moscow that the poisoning could not have happened without some involvement from MI6. He said he had evidence to support his claim, but gave no details.