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No confirmation that Russian experts in U.K. in Litvinenko probe

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MOSCOW, February 21 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's top prosecutor's office would not confirm Wednesday media reports that Russian experts had arrived in London as part of a probe into the poisoning of ex-FSB agent Alexander Litvinenko.

Media reports have said that Russian investigators are expected to travel to London this week to question witnesses in the case, which tarnished Russia's image following allegations of the Kremlin's involvement in the murder of its outspoken critic and defector in November 2006.

"We do not have information on the matter at the moment," the press service of the Prosecutor General's Office said.

British authorities have given their approval for the trip by Russian experts to the U.K. to interview ex-Russian citizens if they agree. Investigators from Scotland Yard, whose anti-terrorism department is conducting a probe into the high-profile murder, have already visited Moscow.

Russian Deputy Prosecutor General Alexander Zvyagintsev said earlier that his colleagues had requested permission to interview over a hundred witnesses, including tycoon Boris Berezovsky, who lives in London as a political emigre.

Earlier, Berezovsky, who is wanted in Russia on charges of fraud and attempts to organize the overthrow of the Russian government, said he would meet with Russian investigators in London only if his security was guaranteed.

"First, it [the meeting] cannot be held in the Russian Embassy, as I don't trust the Russian authorities. They are ready for any provocation," he said. "And second, before the meeting, the representatives of the Prosecutor General's Office must be searched for any poisonous substances or weapons."

Litvinenko, 44, defected in 2000 and received a British passport shortly before his death in London November 23. Doctors said a lethal dose of radioactive polonium-210 was found in his body.

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