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LONDON - Britain has warned Russia not to retaliate against its decision to expel four diplomats over Moscow's refusal to extradite the key suspect in the Litvinenko murder case.
Britain was waiting yesterday for a formal response from Russia, which said it was planning a "targeted and appropriate" reply.
But London warned any retaliation would not be justified in the stand-off over suspect Andrei Lugovoy, who British prosecutors allege used a radioactive substance to poison former KGB agent turned Kremlin critic Alexander Litvinenko.
A senior Russian official said the constitution prevented Russia from extraditing its citizens to face trial in another country and accused Britain of putting the nations on a collision course.
Britain insists Russia's constitution is no barrier and says Lugovoy's extradition is possible under an international accord signed by Moscow.
"They are trying to punish us for following our own constitution," said Alexander Grushko, a Russian deputy foreign minister.
"This is a direct path to confrontation."
Grushko later said: "Our reaction will be targeted and appropriate. British authorities will be informed very soon." But he said Moscow would "take into account the interests of ordinary citizens - of tourists, of participants in cultural and academic exchanges, of businesses".
"We don't want them to suffer as a result of London's actions," Grushko said.
He hinted that Russia would not respond by expelling British diplomats as widely expected, saying the British embassy would have 80 fewer staff if Moscow had taken this approach in the past.
The dispute erupted after Russia refused to extradite Lugovoy in connection with Litvinenko, who was also a British citizen.
Russian members of parliament quoted by news agencies expressed bewilderment at London's announcement and lent their support to a strong response from the Russian Government.
MP Alexander Babakov, of the pro-Kremlin For a Just Russia party, expressed support for "any action taken by Russian authorities to defend the interests of our country", the Interfax news agency reported.
But Leonid Slutsky of the pro-Kremlin Liberal Democratic party said Russia should hold back.
"If Russia responds ... it is unlikely to find allies in Europe."
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