Russia says Britain politicising poisoning case

MOSCOW, June 1 (Reuters) Britain is using the case of murdered Kremlin critic Alexander Litvinenko in a political campaign that is harming ties with Russia, Interfax news agency quoted Russia's foreign minister as saying today.

Asked if the affair was having a negative impact on relations, Sergei Lavrov said: ''Such an effect is being felt, because we see attempts from the British side to use the criminal case to build up some sort of political campaign,'' Interfax reported.

''We are against that. It is the business of the law enforcement agencies,'' said Lavrov.

Litvinenko, a former officer in Russia's Federal Security Service who took British citizenship, died last year in a London hospital after being poisoned by the radioactive isotope polonium 210.

British prosecutors have named Andrei Lugovoy, a business contact of Litvinenko's, as their chief suspect and formally requested that Russia extradite him to stand trial. Russia has refused, saying it cannot extradite its own citizens.

Litvinenko said in a deathbed statement later released by his friends he believed the Kremlin was behind his murder.

Lugovoy, who has denied any guilt, said yesterday British intelligence was involved in the killing.

REUTERS DS RK1930