Britain expels 4 Russian diplomats

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LONDON, England (Reuters) -- Britain says it is expelling four Russian diplomats over Moscow's refusal to extradite the main suspect in the murder of Alexander Litvinenko.

"This is a situation the government has not sought and does not welcome. But we have no choice but to address it," British foreign minister David Miliband said in a speech to parliament.

"We have chosen to expel four diplomats, four particular diplomats, in order to send a clear and proportionate signal to the Russian government about the seriousness of this case," he said Monday.

Litvinenko, a former employee of Russia's Federal Security Service, fled to Britain and became a fierce critic of President Vladimir Putin. He died an agonizing death in London after ingesting a lethal dose of the radioactive isotope polonium 210.

Relations between London and Moscow have deteriorated sharply since Litvinenko's death.

Moscow has since refused to extradite Andrei Lugovoi, a former state security agent. British prosecutors want to bring him before a British court and charge him with the murder of Litvinenko.

Moscow has dismissed as ridiculous the former KGB agent's deathbed accusation that Putin ordered his killing.

"It's a dramatic move to make, but it's not a total surprise. They've gone through all the normal judicial process and now they have to put on some other pressure," said Alex Bigham of the Foreign Policy Centre, a think tank.

Besides throwing out four diplomats, Miliband said Britain would review the extent of its cooperation with Russia on a number of issues, including changing the way Russian government officials get visas.

He said Britain had also suspended attempts to speed up the visa process for Russian citizens and said that if Lugovoi left Russia, international agreements meant he could be extradited.

Britain has rejected a Russian offer to put Lugovoi on trial at home, saying it doubts Moscow's promises of a fair trial.

Miliband stressed that a good relationship between London and Moscow was key because of international action on climate change, terrorism, Iran, Kosovo, the Middle East peace process, Sudan and nuclear proliferation.

"The government believes Russia is a key international partner for the UK," Miliband said. "For all these reasons we need a relationship based on trust and mutual respect.

CNN Source

[Michael]

I personally think we shouldn't enrage Russia because of what they could do to our internet. They may attack us through the web like they did with Estonia.

[Amplify]

I personally think we shouldn't enrage Russia because of what they could do to our internet. They may attack us through the web like they did with Estonia.

It is a common mistake to underestimate the tactics of an enemy, even more so by ego-inflated individuals or conglomerates, so it's no surprise. Though I don't believe Russia would apply such a defense in this matter, though I'm unaware of just how important Russian-English relations are. Something tells me that nothing will occur but a shrug of shoulders or some critical statement towards an unjustified action against Russian diplomats.

[The Godfather]

I personally think we shouldn't enrage Russia because of what they could do to our internet. They may attack us through the web like they did with Estonia.

The U.S. and The United Kingdom are not as vurnable as Estonia. I mean anything is possible, but I doubt they would be as successful with us.