Russia rejects British extradition request-Interfax

MOSCOW, July 5 (Reuters) Russia has sent Britain a letter officially turning down a request to extradite the main suspect in the murder of Russian emigre Alexander Litvinenko, Interfax news agency said today.

There was no immediate confirmation from Russian prosecutors or from British officials.

The agency cited what it called an informed source in Moscow.

Russian officials had previously told reporters they would not extradite Andrei Lugovoy, but Britain was awaiting an official response.

''In accordance with our country's constitution, it is forbidden to extradite a Russian citizen to a foreign state,'' Interfax quoted the source as saying.

A spokesperson for the British embassy in Moscow said: ''I am not yet aware of any official response to the extradition request.'' British prosecutors want to try former Russian state security agent Lugovoy for the murder of Litvinenko, another Russian ex-agent who died in London last November from radiation poisoning.

Litvinenko's associates accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of having a hand in the murder. The Kremlin dismissed that accusation as nonsense.

The case has caused a diplomatic rift between Moscow and London, two former Cold War foes now linked by billions of dollars of investment and business interests.

Britain says it expects Russia to give up Lugovoy for trial, while Moscow says the British government is participating in a campaign to blacken Russia's reputation.

Reuters AGL GC1606