UK still on for Moscow counter-terrorism meeting

LONDON, Nov 24 (Reuters) Britain will take part in a Moscow conference on counter-terrorism next week, even as Scotland Yard anti-terrorist police investigate the death of a former Russian spy from radiation poisoning in London.

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said its head of counter-terrorism policy, Simon Manley, would attend the three-day conference on ''Business Community Involvement in Counter-Terrorism'', starting on Monday.

He said there was ''absolutely no suggestion at all'' of rethinking Britain's participation following the death of Kremlin critic and former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko from radiation poisoning.

In a statement read out after his death, Litvinenko accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of murdering him. Putin called Litvinenko's death a tragedy but said the accusation had ''nothing to do with reality''.

The Foreign Office said Britain had raised the issue of Litvinenko's death with Russia during routine meetings and told Moscow it was a serious matter.

But the Foreign Office spokesman said no Russian link to Litvinenko's death had been proven, and the case was the object of an ongoing police inquiry.

Next week's Moscow conference is part of an initiative promoted by Russia during its chairmanship of the Group of Eight this year to get business more actively involved in the fight against terrorism.

G8 diplomats say enthusiasm for the idea among Western businesses has been limited.

British oil major BP Plc and its Anglo-Dutch rival Shell declined on Friday to say if they were taking part in the meeting.

Reuters LL VP0025