Putin asks Britain to change 'colonial mentality'

Moscow, July 25 (UNI) Russian President Vladimir Putin has asked Britain to change its ''colonial mentality'' over the continuing diplomatic row over his country's refusal to hand over businessman Andrei Lugovoi, a key suspect in the murder of former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko.

''What is the problem inflated by our British partners? There was a tragedy and Mr Litvinenko died in London. They have claims to one of our citizens, Lugovoi, and want us to extradite him,'' Mr Putin said at a meeting last night with the leaders of youth organisations at the presidential residence in Zavidovo, near Moscow.

''At the same time, 30 people wanted by Russian law enforcement agencies on suspicion of serious and very serious crimes are hiding in London. They never planned to extradite those people,'' he said.

The Russian leader pointed out that they had similar problems, although of a lesser scale, with the United States, France and other countries.

''They do not transfer anywhere the people hiding in their territory, including those suspected and charged with terrorism,'' he said.

Mr Putin, however, said London has been making ''some excessive claims to other countries, including us...they are giving advice, which, to my mind, is insulting to our people; they are suggesting that we change the Constitution.

''They should change their mentality, not our Constitution, because their suggestions are a remnant of colonial thinking,'' he added.

''They have forgotten that Britain is no longer a colonial state.

Thank God, Russia has never been a British colony. Such recommendations are self-insulting, as they display the mentality of the past century. One must respect partners and partners will have respect for one,'' Russian agencies quoted Mr Putin as saying. UNI