New Delhi: Britain is set to expel four Russian diplomats from the Russian embassy in London to protest over Moscow's refusal to extradite a key suspect in the killing of former Russian agent Alexander Litvinenko.
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband made the announcement in the House of Commons on Monday afternoon.
The Foreign Secretary has said that relations with Russia on a range of issues are under review.
Last week, Britain said Russia's refusal to extradite Andrei Lugovoy was 'unacceptable' and said it was reviewing co-operation with Moscow.
A spokesman for British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Russia's response was 'extremely disappointing' and Britain was unsure that suspect Andrei Lugovoy, a former state security agent, would get a fair trial if it were held in Russia.
Mr Litvinenko, a former officer in Russia's Federal Security Service, fled to Britain and became a critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
He died in a London hospital last November after being poisoned with the radioactive substance, polonium-210.
Britain's Crown Prosecution Service alleges that Mr Lugovoy used the rare radioactive isotope to poison Mr Litvinenko during a meeting in London in November.
However the Russian constitution prevents the extradition of Russian citizens and the offer to hold the trial in Russia has been dismissed by the UK.
(With agency inputs)
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