Russia 'could try Lugovoy'

Russia's top prosecutor told his British counterpart today that Russia could prosecute the chief suspect in the Alexander Litvinenko killing if Britain presents sufficient evidence, the Interfax news agency reported.

British officials this week said they had enough evidence to charge Russian businessman Andrei Lugovoi in the radioactive poisoning death last year in London of Mr Litvinenko, a former security agent turned fierce Kremlin critic.

Russian officials have repeatedly said Lugovoi cannot be extradited to Britain, although Britain has pressed for co-operation in the case that attracted international attention and brought a chill to relations between the countries.

Prosecutor-General Yuri Chaika was quoted as saying he had discussed the matter with British Attorney General Lord Goldsmith at a G8 security meeting in Munich, Germany.

"I told UK Attorney General Goldsmith that if the UK side provides us with evidence proving Lugovoi's guilt and we consider it sufficient, he may be prosecuted," Mr Chaika said, according to Interfax.