EU criticises Russia over Litvinenko case

(BRUSSELS) - The European Union's Portuguese presidency on Wednesday criticised Moscow's failure to cooperate "constructively" with British authorities in the probe into the murder of a former agent in London.

"The EU expresses its disappointment at Russia's failure to cooperate constructively with the UK authorities," the bloc's Portuguese presidency said in a statement.

"The EU underlines the importance of urgent and constructive cooperation by the Russian Federation on this matter," it added.

Russia was preparing on Wednesday its response to London's decision on Monday to expel four Russian diplomats in protest over Moscow's refusal to extradite the suspect in the radioactive poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko.

Describing his murder as "a grave and reckless crime", the EU's Portuguese presidency said it "hopes for a satisfactory solution to this matter, which raises important questions of common interest to EU member states."

Britain wants Moscow to hand over former KGB agent Andrei Lugovoi, who British prosecutors say murdered Litvinenko.

Russia has refused, maintaining that it is simply upholding its constitution, which forbids the extradition of any of its citizens. Britain says an international accord signed by Russia would allow them to be handed over.

Litvinenko, a former Russian agent turned Kremlin critic who had received political asylum and British citizenship, died November 23 from poisoning by radioactive polonium, three weeks after a meeting with Lugovoi over tea in a London hotel.

The murder sent already rocky relations between the two countries into a downward spiral.

Portuguese Foreign Minister Luis Amado promised EU "solidarity" with Britain on Tuesday in Brussels even though the standoff was a "bilateral problem" between Britain and Russia.

The issue is likely to be raised at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday.