PM demands ex-KGB man's extradition

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Moscow-based Andrei Lugovoy is wanted for the "deliberate poisoning" of Mr Litvinenko, who died from a fatal dose of the radioactive agent Polonium 210.

Russia's state news agency said the prosecutor-general's office rejected Britain's demand.

Mr Blair's spokesman said the case was being taken very seriously and stressed that the UK would "not in any way shy away" from trying to ensure justice prevails.

Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said she expected "full co-operation", while Russian ambassador Yury Fedotov was summoned to meet permanent under-secretary Peter Ricketts, who urged Russia to comply with the legal request.

Relations between Moscow and London have been strained since Britain refused to send exiled tycoon Boris Berezovsky back to the Russian authorities.

Mr Litvinenko's death last November sparked a murder inquiry by the Met's counter terrorism unit, with detectives travelling to Russia to interview suspects.

The head of counter terrorism Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke described it as "a unique inquiry". Lugovoy, who met Mr Litvinenko in London on the day he fell ill, has always denied any involvement.

Tuesday's decision to prosecute was made by the Crown Prosecution Service after the Met passed on a file of evidence in January. Director of Public Prosecutions Sir Ken Macdonald QC said the murder was an "extraordinarily grave crime".

He said: "I have today concluded that the evidence sent to us by the police is sufficient to charge Andrei Lugovoy with the murder of Mr Litvinenko by deliberate poisoning. I have further concluded that a prosecution of this case would clearly be in the public interest."