UK calls talk of neutral trial in ex-spy case premature

LONDON, June 10 (Reuters) Britain said today it was still waiting for a response from Russia over the extradition of the main suspect in last year's murder in London of an ex-spy, saying talk of a trial in a third country was speculative.

British prosecutors have requested the extradition of Russian Andrei Lugovoy to face charges for poisoning Kremlin critic Alexander Litvinenko with radioactive polonium-210, straining relations between London and Moscow.

The Sunday Times newspaper, in an unsourced report, said Prime Minister Tony Blair's Downing Street office was drawing up a compromise plan to try Lugovoy in a neutral third country.

''The British authorities are still waiting for a response from Russia,'' a spokesman for Blair's office said today in response to the report. ''Talk of anything else at this stage is speculation.'' Russia has publicly dismissed the extradition request, with President Vladimir Putin rejecting the demand as ''foolish''.

Russia's constitution prohibits the extradition of Russian citizens, officials say.

The Litvinenko case was discussed in ''frank'' talks between Blair and Putin at the end of a summit of the Group of Eight most industrialised countries in Germany on Friday. No progress was made.

Trying Lugovoy in a third country could help break the deadlock between Russia and Britain over the Litvinenko case, which is one of a number of issues damaging bilateral relations.

Blair has concerns about British investments in Russia while Putin alarmed the West last week when he threatened to target Russian missiles at Europe in response to a US plan to site parts of a planned missile defence system in Eastern Europe.

REUTERS SLD KP1712