Russia says no extradition for Litvinenko suspects

MOSCOW, Dec 5 (Reuters) Any Russian citizen suspected in the poisoning of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko will be tried in Russia, not Britain, Prosecutor-General Yuri Chaika said today.

He also said Russian prosecutors will question Litvinenko associate Andrei Lugovoy as part of cooperation with British detectives who started work in Moscow today. Lugovoy met Litvinenko on November 1, the day he fell ill.

Answering reporters' questions on the presence of British police in Moscow, Chaika said: ''The person who is accused will be convicted by a Russian court.'' Asked if suspects could be sent to Britain, he said ''This will not be possible.'' No one has to date been charged with offences related to Litvinenko's death.

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