Russia regrets no UK go-ahead for Litvinenko probe

MOSCOW, Feb 7 (Reuters) Russia regrets Britain has not yet replied to its request to allow Russian detectives to investigate in London the murder of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko, a foreign ministry spokesman said today.

Litvinenko, a London-based Kremlin critic, died from radiation poisoning in November. He had blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin for his murder -- allegations dismissed by the Kremlin as nonsense.

''Russia's Prosecutor-General sent a formal request ... to Britain's Interior Minister John Reed as long ago as January 8. So far there has been no response,'' Mikhail Kamynin said in a statement.

''Such a long delay in responding to the Russian request is regrettable, especially given that Russia has expressed a readiness to cooperate ... in this question.'' Litvinenko's deathbed accusations against the Kremlin have strained Russia's relations with Britain. British detectives conducted inquiries Moscow in December, and Russia's Prosecutor-General said last month they wanted to return for a second visit.

''I do not exclude that after our investigators visit London we will host our colleagues again here,'' Yuri Chaika added, giving no further details.

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