| Siege barrister lawfully killed A barrister shot by police marksmen following a five-hour stand-off in west London was lawfully killed, a jury says. bbc.co.uk |
William Hague insists on British trial for Andrei Lugovoi UK stance on Litvinenko murder unchanged despite improved relations with Russia, foreign secretary says on Moscow visitWilliam Hague said that Britain's troubled relations with Russia had taken a positive "step forward" but insisted that Andrei Lugovoi – accused of murdering Alexander Litvinenko – should be tried in the UK.During his first trip to Moscow as foreign secretary today, Hague met with President Dmitry Medvedev – a sign of Russia's keenness to move on from the Litvinenko affair. Hague also spent more than three hours in talks with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov.Speaking in Moscow, Hague said that the British coalition government would not "shy away" from discussing difficult issues, including the unresolved Litvinenko case, adding that Britain and Russia "have had some serious differences" following the Kremlin's refusal to extradite Lugovoi, charged in 2007 with Litvinenko's murder.But Hague also hailed Russia as an important partner in international security, and signalled the coalition wanted a business and trade driven partnership with the Kremlin. He gave Medvedev a letter from David Cameron, laying out areas in which both countries could co-operate, such as Iran, Afghanistan and the Middle East.British officials today said it would be an exaggeration to describe Hague's trip as a "reset". But they hinted the Russians were glad to see the back of Gordon Brown."Medvedev was visibly disposed to seeing more of the new UK government," one said, claiming that Cameron's meeting with the president during the G8 summit in Canada in June "had an impact".During today's press conference, Hague was reminded by a journalist of Cameron's remark during Russia's 2008 war with Georgia that "Russian armies can't march into other countries while Russian shoppers carry on marching into Selfridges." (Cameron also called for Russia to be suspended from the G8.) Lavrov came to Hague's rescue, pointing out that Cameron had not said anything similar "as prime minister".Lavrov will now travel to London early next year at his counterpart's invitation. British officials said a visit by Hague to Moscow in January as shadow foreign secretary had paved the way for more constructive relations. "[The Russians] have responded to that opening of the door. But that doesn't mean they are throwing open the windows," one official suggested.The foreign secretary also confirmed that Britain was not prepared to lift punitive measures against Russia taken in the wake of Litvinenko's polonium assassination. In 2007, the then foreign secretary, David Miliband, severed co-operation with the Federal Security Service (FSB), the successor to the KGB, and imposed visa restrictions on Kremlin officials visiting London. "There is no change in the UK position on this issue," Hague said .In an interview with the Guardian on Tuesday, Lugovoi, a former FSB officer turned Russian businessman, said he would never travel to Britain to stand trial. He suggested it was time for the UK to "move on" from Litvinenko's agonising death four years ago, and to give up its attempts to extradite him, saying: "The only trial I'll accept is one in Russia."William HagueAlexander LitvinenkoRussiaDmitry MedvedevLuke Hardingguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Warning over council sports funds Councils could struggle to find the cash to improve local sports centres and maintain services, a new report warns. bbc.co.uk |
State pension age could increase to 68 a decade earlier The state pension age will have to be increased to 68 more than a decade earlier than planned to pay for the simplification of the pension system, experts warn. telegraph.co.uk |
Full Story: Prime Minister's Questions Coverage of prime minister's questions from the House of Commons. news.bbc.co.uk |