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Moscow, London clash over location of trial

Moscow and London locked horns on Friday over where to try the chief suspect in the murder of Russian former spy Alexander Litvinenko, with each side insisting justice should be served on its own soil.

The clash over where to hold the trial of ex-KGB agent Andrei Lugovoi, suspected by Britain of poisoning Litvinenko in London last year, has deepened a diplomatic crisis between the two states over the killing.

In an apparent gesture of conciliation, Russian Prosecutor General Yuri Chaika said he had told British Attorney General Lord Peter Goldsmith that Lugovoy would be tried in Russia if London supplied enough evidence.

"If the British side present us with evidence of Lugovoy's guilt and we consider it sufficient then he can be prosecuted," Chaika told Channel One television in Munich after a meeting of Group of Eight justice and interior ministers.

But Goldsmith said in a statement that he had told Chaika in Munich that he expected Russia to extradite Lugovoy.

"This murder was committed on UK soil, the evidence is in the UK, a UK citizen was killed and other people put at risk and it is therefore right a suspect should face justice in a UK court," the statement said.

"I have impressed on Mr Chaika that we are seeking and expect constructive and rapid cooperation from the Russian authorities in bringing this suspect before a British court."

Lugovoy, who has always protested his innocence, said on Friday when Reuters contacted him by telephone: "I cannot say anything right now."

Chaika said Lugovoy could not be extradited because it would contravene the Russian constitution.

Litvinenko died in a London hospital on Nov. 23 after ingesting a fatal dose of polonium 210, a highly toxic radioactive isotope.

A former Russian security service officer who obtained British citizenship, Litvinenko said in a message read by his associates after his death that the Kremlin was behind his poisoning.

The Kremlin has said those claims are nonsense and senior officials say the Litvinenko affair has been used by Russian President Vladimir Putin's enemies to damage Russia's image.

Russian prosecutors opened their own investigation into Litvinenko's death and what they said was the attempted murder of Dmitry Kovtun, who along with Lugovoy met Litvinenko at the Millennium Hotel in Grosvenor Square on Nov 1.

Litvinenko complained of feeling ill later that day and was admitted to hospital shortly afterwards.
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