We have a big game, and UK is a small player, it has a good friend, a special relationship with the empire, but the bear is not afraid as most of the countries are.
We have a major player in the chess of geopolitcs, and the UK is just the shadow of the greatness of the past.
Dont play with fire! Russia in not Germany

Raul Alfaro, buenos aires, argentina

I strongly feel that all that all of this is over-reaction that could easily lead to a more dangerous situation. I think that the United Kingdom and the Russian Federation are made up of good people. We need to co-operate so that the people of two of the oldest and most established nations in the Europe can trade and live in peace and guard against the forces of radical change in the world.
I am also amazed at some of the American reactions to this situation concerning the attemts by the Brown government to distance themselves from the Hawks in Washington. Some of them seem to be saying that the UK should face this threat alone. I would remind them of the unwavering British support that the USA has received before they abandon their one true ally. I would also conclude that the UK could better resolve the stand off with Russia without American intervention. What is needed here is not violence and military posturing but political statesmanship and wisdom.

Thorne, Staffordshire, United Kingdom

????? What planet are you on ? Viktor Yushenko, poisoned. Litvinenko poisoned.
Yuri Velasquez, Stockwell, London.

Yep. That's the planet we live on. David Christopher Kelly in UK, US President John F. Kennedy, Sweden's Prime Minister Olof Palme etc etc killed. Not to mention Iraq, Vietnam and Latin America.

Stev, Canada,

Pavel wrote:"The Russian bombers fly exclusively on routes which are planned for a half of year. You simply do not know Russia, we have changed in the best way. England has remained the same." I have worked at radar stations that track these slow moving spidery hulks. Either the crew need lessons in navigation or their equipment needs renewing. You have changed in the best way ????? What planet are you on ? Viktor Yushenko, poisoned. Litvinenko poisoned. Makes a change I suppose from killing Bulgarian journalists with a poison umbrella while walking over Waterloo Bridge? Pres.Ras-Putin is a six-cylinder Moscow Central trained KGB hood ! You are always killing the opposition, look what happened to Gen. Alex Lebed, killed in an alleged helicopter accident like a number of other Russians who think for themselves.

Yuri Velasquez, Stockwell, London

That air-misson with those russian bombers where politically cleared months in advance. The norwegians and the british new of it. This case just stupid, the only reason they went as far south as they did, is because they got more cash. During the cold war, missions like this happened 600 times a year.

Ola Nordmann, Bergen, Norway

Don't worry about TU-95's. They should be in a museum. Quaint old beasts thay they are. Even so, this was Russian 'sabre-rattling' instigated at the highest level. Litvinenko's assassination was also sanctioned at the highest level.
Wake up World ! Things never change.

Yuri Velasquez, Stockwell, London

The press (or RAF) exaggerating again... surely they flew a bit to the south, surely it was normal for norwegian / british fighters to shadow them, but is this such a big issue?
That's just a regular military routine - nothing more.

Nick, Berlin, Germany

Billions in investment between UK and Russia will not be jeopardized by the small inconvenience of the murder of an ex-KGB agent; and antiquated Russian 'Bears' amount to nothing more than posturing. Both countries employ 'dirty tricks'; which country's secret agent put the fatal bullet in Rasputin?

Peter L, Lincoln,

WW3? Is it coming...

n/a, n/a,

Does anyone really think those Russian planes "strayed?" They didn't go where they went without orders from far higher up the chain of command. Of that you can be sure.

Members of Gordon Brown's cabinet (Malloch-Brown, for instance) have signaled that the British government wants a more "internationalist" approach to foreign policy, and that the "special relationship" between the U.S. and Britain is not so important after all. That relieves us Americans of any anxiety that as Russia continues its push to intimidate and dominate the European scene that we need get involved.

I'm sure the fearless French will lead the way in pushing back at the Russians, and all the Western European nations and Britain will follow boldly, standing up to Russia and forcing it to mend its ways.

Terry L. Walker, Ladson, S.C. / USA

Its not a strategic bomber, its the asw variant for hunting submarines.

Paul Clift, Northampton, England

I have friends who have been tested positive for traces of polonium following being on certain flights back and forth to Russia last year (luckily I was not on the plane in question). What happened was not only an assasination, but risked the lives of many other innocent UK citizens. The government is correct with this strong approach.

Alexander Roan, London,

We must stop the malcontents of every other country, most of which are pretty uncivilised by our standards, coming here to live. If a number of prominent British people went to live in another country having opposed our government , and then started to criticise in an aggressive way while working to overthrow the British government we would be less than pleased. It is often true that people who are considered, often with good reason, nuisances in their own countries, use Britain as a base to denigrate the country they have come from and act as centres for dissident organisation here. In spite of what the child Chakarabati and her clique of human rightists say,those who are sought for extradition to countries of origin by legitimate governments should be extradited . If this policy were adopted throughout the world, we would all live in greater safety. Let these people stay at home and try to change the sytem they don,t like, instead of showing bad taste
in behaving badly as expats.

F.Cunctator, Lincoln,

The Russian bombers fly exclusively on routes which are planned for a half of year. You simply do not know Russia, we have changed in the best way. England has remained the same.

Pavel, St. Petersburg, Russia

It's all for political show. UK-Russia business is up ten-fold in the last ten years. Talk to any Russian and you'll realise that we haven't been this close for centuries.

Alfonso Parelli, London, UK

From an outsider's perspective, I find it interesting that Britain trots out the old 'RAF scrambled fighter jets to intercept Russian jets' line every time it has a diplomatic row. International airspace is international airspace: deal with it. In the meantime, wonder how and why you are being manipulated by your government-military-industrial complex, just as some of you are doing. Clue: Iran and oil.

Matt Black, Dinkum, Australia

I have an impression that UK government is developing this scandal to turn attention away from the mess Britain is today, whether in Iraq or at home. Well, good luck. However this will not work in a long term: neither Iraq, nor terrorism at home are not going to dissapear. Using Russia as a scapegoat and a cause to boost nation morale will merely buy this government some time but will not solve these fundamental problems.
But what are a bitter day for RAF: from Battle for Britain in 1940 to Circus for Britain of 2007. From hero of the world to the worst joke of the day.

Vladimir, New York, USA

My goodness, some over sensitive Russian reaction here!! I fully accept that our media are frequently guilty of over reaction, but there is no hysteria in our country chaps, we have something called a free press here. The facts maybe over-hyped on occasions but we are perfectly capable of measured interpretation. We are not anti-Russian or in favour of another cold war. Maybe if your media were not encouraged to be a little selective in their reporting you wouldn’t have the need to read our news reports on the internet. In the final analysis, we cannot allow people to drop into our country and murder people and just disappear, we are better than that and so are the Russian people. We will uphold the rule of law and it is unfortunate that the Russian government seem to think that it doesn’t apply to their citizens. In the meantime, lets all calm down and keep everything in perspective.

Steve, Folkestone, England

On an aviation front from one just returned from Fairford... why was the Typhoon not used on such a mission, now it has been declared operational? That would have been an interesting demonstration of its capability as to speed of intercept et al...and given the Bears something new to look at...or potentially worry about.

Steely Dan, Glouester,

"Lets just be friends!!
scott, london " - the best idea for the last six month.

To Staffan Lundberg, Stockholm, Sweden:
Usual citizens in Russia also want to know the reasons of British government. Now we only suppose that it is strange political games.

To James, Edinburgh, UK:
These are not facts. Can you prove these are facts?

To Gill, London:
Yes! Yes! YES!
Justice should be seen to be done! But what does this mean to you, to Britain, to Russia, to our governments?
Does it mean that envoy of Chechen terrorists - Zakayev, who has taken part in terrorist actions(blowing up building in Russia, murdering citizens and soldiers in Russia, rember also Beslan tragedy), should be finnaly extrdited to Russia. What would you say, if a building go off, or a school is attacked by terrorists in Britain?

Victor, Murmansk, Russia

We are turning into a really pathetic nation. If our elected Government (yes, you did elect them) goes for a "diplomatic", softly-softly approach then we are outraged. If they go for a defiant and strong approach then we are...wait for it...outraged. At least our Government is standing up against Russia, a nation which was and still is one of history's most horrendous bullies. Do we want to live in a world where free speech is as good as suicide? Where nasty, angry Russian's, who are bitter about how much power they have lost over the years, poison us all with radiation? If your answer is yes then perhaps we should listen to those of us who want to sit back and complain. Luckily our representatives do not want to opt for the "yer darned if ye do and yer darned if ye don't" attitude.

Chloe Cannon, Glasgow, United Kingdom

Bearing in mind that the Russian constitutional position re. extradition has been in place for many years and at the same time that the UK government has refused to lawfully extradite Russian citizens back to Russia the present government,s position is absurd and bound to increase tension. What a bunch of wallies!

Roy Shaw, Nantes, France

Mossad wins again!

Ewar, Brighton, UK

This incumbent government formed its political experience half way between the sixth form common room and the red brick university, not the university of life. Their methods of dealing with issues that do not suit their agenda are at best childish and at worst, dangerous. If our government of snakes & ladder players think that they are going to educate Russian chess players, then forget your pension investment, a tin hat is a better buy.

Robert Walker, Huddersfield, West Riding of Yorkshire

The process of liberalisation, privatisation acted upon by Yeltsin left many rich oligarchs in Russia/FSU working closely with US investment banks. For some time Putin has wanted to show the Russian people that the assets stripped from the Russian people unscrupulously might be repatriated. The Berezovsky saga is just one aspect to this bigger picture. The Litvinenko death and Russia's sabre rattling is more to do with Russian prized assets than the Plutonium saga. Traditional tit-for-tat dilpomatic upheavals stimulated by Brown's expulsion of 4 diplomats will only lead to trade chaos for the likes of BP and Royal Dutch Shell. Don't think that this hasn't happened before! History is repeating itself!

Richard Hoblyn FSI, Limoges, France

Hello,
Listen,... it looks like officials play a game with reason they know well while people remain unaware of the reason why White and Black Pieces show the power in capturing an enemy.

In terms of a chess player the game is not played by two persons but with help of consultants. There would be no reason to worry about it if it were the kind of activity. However, the reality is
different from fantasy as death and life. If they are ready to keep us safe from harm? Will we wait for new facts?

Mikhail Gaichenkov, Moscow,

This is all about Berezovsky, if the UK had extradited him when Russia asked then most of this would have been avoided. And now the UK has the gall to demand the extradition of Lugovoi?? I really don't care about either of them but fair is fair.

Additionally this whole affair has British intelligence, Russian intelligence and big megalomaniacal business money interests written all over it. That means all cards and options are on the table and do you really think even an inkling of the real story will ever be revealed?? Think again.

When big state sponsored intelligence and big money is involved what's a few hundred irradiated Londoners??

Connor, Arlington,

It appears that Putin may have opted out of the Rothschild banking franchise and that will be to his doom. As Madam Rothschild one said, if my boys didn't want wars there would be no wars

Bonanzaman, blaine, wa

I think UK must repond to the russian threat fiercly, otherwise whole of the europe will be in danger again. Remeber last year russia stopped europe's gas supplies in order to blackmail europe. I think europe must realize an emerging threat from russia before it is too late.

A M, Isb, Pakistan

What Cold War? Over two bombers that HEADED into Britains DIRECTION? Did Russians build military bases near UK? No. Did they install a radar in Ireland? No. Did they install enti-ICBM rockets in France? No. So what are you talking about? Its the West that is itching for a Cold War, not Russia!
And for the Alex from St. Petersburg I have a message: if you are smart enough to write in English then emigrate, but don't put dirt on the country that brought you up. Have some pride and travel around. There is nothing more disgusting than a miserable, begging traitor like you. If you don't like Putin - don't vote for him and demonstrate against him. But don't support a country that still has its warheads amed at Russia and you, and I am talking about Britain.

Oleg, Toronto, Canada

KGB see you!!!! KGB is alive!

KGB's general, Moscow, Russia

I think business is the best answer and the best medicine to such disease. It's better not to disturb dead people (e.g Litvinenko) in their graves and we took care of our profit rather than seek for retaliation or what ever else. After all WE LIVE and we want to LIVE IN WEALTH rather in dispute and misery.

So MAKE BUSINESS NOT WAR!!!!

Christopher, Athens,

I don't see what UK wants to gain from Litvinenko case. This is just a criminal matter. Does ruining good relationship with Russia worth it? Obviously some UK companies doing business in Russia will suffer and Russian politicians won't forget about it for a long time. French are probably quite happy though, as they've got a lucrative multibillion contract with Gazprom instead of BP.

Nicolas, Montreal,

If you like prophecies... remember that Nostradamus predicted a Russian invasion of the British Islands: 500 years back from now. While other predictions have been already accomplished, it is worth to be prudent!
And following the recent news it seems something is happening right now, very suspicious.
Keep a good Russian grammar and diccionnary at hand, just in case. It is useful to understand the situation.
But I prefer optimism, thanks

Pipa Pam, Cremona, Italia

Don't be afraid, we're not so bad, as you thing ;-)
Best regards.
One of Russians.

Roman, Khanty-Mansyisk, Russia

"...the Russian military engaged in some old-fashioned sabre-rattling..."

Ha! If you don't know - this flight of bombers were planned half a year ago as a planned training for pilots, and these actions were synchronised with British army. So... I remember a story, when famous american senator anticommunist jumped out of his window screaming: "Russian's are coming!". It looks like now it is a mass hysteria in Britain same to those in cold war.
Rememder that: "...The term mass hysteria is applied to situations in which a large group of people exhibit the same kinds of physical symptoms with no organic cause...". Be careful - it is dangerous illness, especially when government has it.

P.S. Here in Russia - we don't want nobody dead after jumping from the window.

Victor, Murmansk, Russia

didn't the Russian's do exactly the same thing (a couple of bombers towards our airspace) a couple of months ago? Deja vu. Not that unusual then.

Pete, Bristol, UK

Why is no other news service in the UK reporting this story?

Voland, France,

I'm not a hot Putin supporter, but I think this is absurb. This is Russiano-phobia now. Paranoia. Some Russian planes traveled a bit further south than usual over Scotland, probably training (and this has happened before, even if only rarely!), and now all Britain is on alert. Jjudging by some of these comments, some people would have shot down those planes and declared war if the choice had been theirs. Honestly. Would people have even thought twice about this affair if the planes had been French or German? Why are the Russians the bad guys again? Why the cold war era thinking? Just because Russia and Britain are disagreeing over the extradition of Luganov doesn't mean that suddenly Russia's going to attack Britain. Russia and Britain are friends, allies! God damn it, people, isn't there anybody out there that isn't contaminated with Russian-o-phobia?

Natalya, Archangel, Russian Empire

Finding an external enemy is always the best way for a politician to gain the influence and political capital he lacks.

Yan, Moscow, Russia

The two out dated Russian bombers patrolling the Norwegian sea, being shadowed by two armed RNoAF F16 fighters, and then the RAF sending up two Tornados to possibly intercept, is standard military procedure. The Russians simply want intelligence on reaction time of the two involved Air forces.

If you see a significant number of bombers, you may start to worry.

The RAF and the RNoAF sends patrols towards Russian territory for the same reason on a much more regular basis. During the cold war, when the Soviet military had a greater strength, they conducted missions like this on a daily basis, tying up NATO resources.

John, Barclona, Spain

If a british citizen had contaminted Moscow in a similar incident would they not expect cooperation from London, In this country we strive for truth and justice. I do not think we would want one of our own citizens to escape penalty just because he was british. I support Gordon Brown.

David Hunt, Romsey,

Am i wrong? Isn't it the US and the UK that are invading and /or occupying countries or building military bases all over the world . If the Russians were harboring some Englishman who had openly and seriously said his goal was to murder Tony Blair and bring down the english parliament wouldn't they want him deported back to england to face trial for treason or whatever. Do we seriously think this man (Putin) is worse than his drunken predecessor. A cold war is one thing , a HOT WAR is quite another, ask ANY Iraqi. Bring ALL war criminals to justice eh?

Bob, Glanmire, Ireland

Russin Bears have been doing that for the last 40 years at least, so what's new? The only real surprise is that any of them are still up to flying as far as UK airspace these days. Who says Russians can't build good machinery? The Lightnings and Phantoms that used to intercept then have long been consigned to the scrap heap.

Maybe they're just flaunting the fact that they have enough fuel supplies to extend their range at will, whereas our fuel may be in decidedly short supply if they really get angry.

KR, Stockport,

Seems like an ordinary "flag presence". It means only that its better to respect Russia as well as the U.K. respects itself.

Alex Filatov, Severstal',

Let's not underestimate the power and capabilities of Russia.The Russians are the last real superpower that's oposing the forces of globalization.

Gunther Berghof, Toronto, Canada

Riding on the back of its GazProm monopoly, Russia has once again moved to its default mode of "Bully".

Well tough luck Putin. You can't murder people in Britain without consequences. And we're insulated from your crude use of fuel as a weapon by our own resources, and by Nuclear power.

Toby, Birmingham,

The RAF was altogether far too efficient. Why not wait until the bombers were safely over the coast? Only then intercept, apply a tight escort and “invite” them to land. After all they had clearly lost their bearings and in the circumstances this is accepted protocol. If uncooperative, a cannon shell carefully dispatched to each offending forward undercarriage would ensure a rough and hopefully incident packed landing on their return to home base, and a lesson well learnt.

A Holmes, Auckland, NZ

Could this have something to do with the fact that major Russian Companies are listing on the London Stock Exchange, rather than the USA.

So, somebody sets up a Russian to take the fall...

Surelook Twice, London, UK

The two Russian bombers wasn't that close to English airspace, and it's not very uncommon for the Russians (or any other nation) to have "patrols" and millitary exercises in their own airspace and along it's borders. The Norwegian airforce sent up two F16's as a routine operation, and it was just a matter of showing the other side "we see you and know you're there", from both sides. This happens regularly, and is hardly a sensation. But I guess for the british it is, because of the diplomatic "war" that is going on now. It wasn't even mentioned in Norwegian papers until the Times made a story out of it :)

Cris Hansen, Oslo, Norway

I am not a hot putin supporter but what someone could read about Russia is some kind of paranoia - anti-russian fobia as after famous churchill's fulton speech. Is anybody adequate out there left?

Dmitry, Moscow, Russia

Thank God the Trident nuclear subs are being replaced. The only thing that will stop big bully Russia or any similar country from forcing its will on our western democracies is MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction). It worked before and it will work again. As a Finn I know how dangerous the Russian bear can be and so I say long live NATO.

Mikko Takala, Drumnadrochit, Scotland

Heads up you Brits, Russia is not messing around. Russia is not some third world middle eastern country that Britain can push around. Prepare for a very cold winter in the UK, if the infant NEW LABOR government continues to follow their Tony Blair like foreign policy.

Robert J. Van den Broeck, Kouchibouguac, Canada/New Brunswick

Every UK News source especially BBC, keep describing the Litvinenko incident as "MURDER" yet there has been NO Court case, NO Jury and NO evidence presented.
The truth is, a fair trial is now impossible, as the media has jeapodised an unbiased legal situation.
UK has shot itself in the foot.
Why do we want to upset a new friend like Russia?
Is it to appease Bush or the Saudi paymasters of UK big business?
Bin -LIner must be rolling on his cave-floor, laughing his head off.
We run down our military, and then want them to take on the impossible.
Our political leaders are laughable, if it wasn't so bloody dangerous.

Derek Nugent, Flitwick,

Calm down.
The Russian Air Force spokesman dismissed any link between this routine mission and the Litvinenko affair as fallacious.
Russian bombers have conducted numerous exercices in the last past weeks and months.
Such flights are routinely planned 6 months in advance.
At the time of the aforesaid interception, 2 more bombers were over the Pacific, 2 others in the Far East near Alaska.
The Strategic Air Arm of the Russian AF has already conducted 3 large-scale exercices this year.
The said flight was confined to international airspace.
The Tu-95MS and its recce version is a very long-range and long-endurance aircraft, no one would expect its aircrews to do anything else but long-range training missions.
If anything, the reporting of this story and reactions to it is just another example media-formented hysteria.

Tzipi, Zurich, Switzerland

Oops...is all one can say to all you Euro-Lefties that love to bash America for all of your and the world's problems.

Sorry to disappoint here, but Uncle Sam can't be used as your scapegoat this time. Looks like you'll have to deal with the big bad Bear from the north all on your own.

Scotty, NC,

Dear James, these are not FACTS, but utter nonsense. 1. "The Russians...murdered a protectorate of the British state". First of all, "protectorate" is the wrong term. Check the OED. Second, we/I don't know who killed Litvinenko. All we got are allegations, from both sides. That much for "facts". 2. "Lugovoy can be extridited (from a third country, for example)" No, niet, nein. No Russian/US/French etc. citizen can be extracdicted from his/her home country. Period. British prosecutors can read, i.e. the Russian consitution, I suspect. If they want to change it, there is a simple way to do so: Britain becomes part of the Russian Federation and then Westminster may vote in favour of amending the constitution. 3. "Britain increasingly needs Russia's gas, yet Russian companies cannot operate (financially) without flotation on the London Stock Exchange. " Gazprom is not listed at the LSE and doesn't need to. And there are Geneva, Zurich, Singapore, NY as well...

Tzipi, Zurich, Switzerland

I see a major split between powerful nuclear armed countries in eastern & western continents in the near future.

Western side = US, UK, France, Israel.

Eastern side = Russia, China, NKorea, Pakistan, Iran.
(India, still to decide)

Stanzler, NY, USA

I can understand British worrying about oil and gas problems that they may face in the future, but why should British diplomats heat up political and military situation? You will have a lot of oil in Iraq won't you? I can't imagine Russia bombing UK simply because of many Russians live work and study in UK and oligarchs' wifes spend their money in luxurios shops and buy real estate there. It's better to say that Russia and UK depend on each other in some degree. What's wrong? I think Brown's "four legs good, two legs bad"-policy can not work here.

Andrey, Moskow, Russia

After all the unfathomably pervert terrorist threats and highly complex fourth generation asymetric wars theories, to read that "Two Tu95 “Bear” bombers were dispatched from their base on the Kola Peninsula in the Arctic Circle and headed towards British airspace" is almost refreshing!
Sounds like the opening sentence of a vintage F. Forsyth novel.
Thank you so much, Volodia.

Ronnie, Paris, FRANCE

Oh, come on! The Tu-95 "Bear" hasn't been a bomber for years; you can call them "intelligence gathering" planes if you want, or even "ex-bombers", but as "strategic bombers" they are a joke.

“Why does one former KGB officer killing another deserve this attention?”
Because it happened in UK sovereign territory. Whether he was former KGB or a member of the Tunbridge Wells Bridge Club is irrelevant.

"Studies at the Russian Academy of Sciences"?
What does the Russian Academy of Sciences got to do with all this?

Frederick Davies, Oxford, UK

On a lighter note, does this mean we will now be subject to American (action?) films depicting Russia as the bad guys again? After Rocky Bilboa it looks as someone may resurect the Rambo franchise.

As for Gill - trying telling that to the Iraqi's

Graham,

Graham, Birmingham, UK

Pity the RAF can't scramble Jets to stop these terrorists in our skies who are spraying chemical aerosols (biological weapons) on us. Everyone can see them apparently except for the RAF, the political games continue on. No one believes any thing the Government reports anymore because virtually everything they tell us is lies, disinformation, and propaganda.

Arthur Guy, Gloucester, Gloucestershire

Putin and the Russian state are clearly on the same track as their immediate predecessors. Let's all avoid being "sheeple" friends and get ready. Thanks to the RAF for a job well done.

Tom, Moscow, Idaho, USA

Where's James Bond when you need him?

Ajer, Basingstoke, UK

If they want a sign of our good intent, let's send them Gordon Brown

Neil Marshall, Cambridge, UK

Why does Britan protect Russian mafia criminals? The money, of course.

Maybe they should just send them back to stand trial in their own country?

Seems reasonable to me.

Brian, San Diego, USA

The murder was done on British soil and thats that.

Kristaps, Riga,

Heathen based government?!!!! Please, religious based governments are the worst - look at the theocracies of Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and if you like the US - born again evangelism - truth and fact are twisted by outdated beliefs.

anna, camberley,

This is utterly bizarre. Are they still, even after so long, this crude? Is it still the case that, 'scratch a Russian, find a Tartar?'

Indra, Mumbai, In

matt, haarlem, holland, you say "Look at how the british government handles international affairs, then you can be asssured that something dreadful is going to happen in the near future. "

What about the dutch government, that let the Hells Angels turn Holland into the drug capital of the world, without lifting a finger until the bodies started floating to the canal surface ?

I don`t think you have a right to criticise the British.

K.W., Lincoln, England

"Why does one former KGB officer killing another deserve this attention?"

Because it is murder & the perpetrators should be be found and tried, no matter who the victim was or what he did?

Ruth, Newcastle, UK

What a joke - the UK government complaining about non cooperation regarding the death of one person, while it is entirely responsible for an illegal war and the death of 1,000,000 Iraqis.
British hyprocisy has never been better.

Connor , Thorpe, Surrey

Just seems so odd, there are "easier & better" ways to get rid of some one. Using an obscure radiation isotope (?) was bound to leave a trace. The Russian's? More like conspiracy theories...

Rob, Brum, UK

From Russia with love. This little england should think twice before giving political asylum to international terrorists and mr. Berezovsky. But no one can teach them thinking now as they sweep out names of Churchill, Stalin, etc from their school textbooks...

Victor I., Khabarovsk, Russian Empire

Lets just be friends!!

scott, london,

We hear of fighters 'scrambing' to confront Russian bombers....who was actually 'scrambling', the fighter crews or the aircraft themselves....or both...or was it those that gave the orders to scramble had had their brains scrambled? Or did Gordon Brown give the order as 'supreme commander' of the British Forces? We will never know!

Derek Clifton, Andover, Hampshire, England

Because murder is murder. No matter who the perpetrator or the victim happen to be it is wrong and justice should be seen to be done.

Gill, London,

Well, Mathew MacDonald,
What's the appropriate response to the four hundred TONS of depleted Uranium that's been dumped on the Iraqi people?

john , las Palmas de Gran Canaria,

Live by the sword, and die by the sword.

It is in our natures to destroy ourselves!

Walter, Buffalo, USA

The Ruskies turned back because those were not two Guatemalan jets confronting them, but two RAF boys.

Eugene, Heidelberg, germany

Unless you are a political and historical idiot you do NOT have to be Nostradamus to see this one coming ...

Now that people are starting to finally see through the phony "terrorist" B.S. and the Iraq debacle, it is time to erect a new "enemy' with greater credibility.

The PIP's (people in power) just have to keep the Iraq thing going long enough for Russia to ramp up as the new boogey-man so they can continue to scare the little old ladies of either sex into giving up their rights.

And you Brits thought you won WWII -- Wake up; the Nazis have been coming in your back door since 1945. Hermann Goering predicted that statues to him would be erected within 50 years -- looks like he was only off by a decade...

Carl Street, San Francisco CA, USA

Was the radiation fiasco an "al-queda" set up gone awry? Was tis supposed to be the "dirty bomb"?

Alan Crawford, Glasgow, Scotland

to mr Matthew MacDonaldhm so ... if Litvinenko was shot or stabbed British puddle would not start yapping? :) I find it greatly amusing that on one hand Braun and Co find to be Russian legal system not up to their standards and on the other they have no problem suggesting that Russians should ignore their Constitution to please these bunch of bloody neocons.

Oleg, Fresno, USA/CA

Does the reluctance of the Russians to extradite Andrei Lugovoy, and the high technology used in the murder, not suggest that the Russian Government was behind the assassination of Litvinenko?
Furthermore we heard today that a plot to assassinate Berezovsky in London was foiled recently by the UK's security services.
The Russian state appears to be trying to kill dissenting voices in the UK.

Reed, Truro,

"The incident, described as rare by the RAF"? Despite the fact that EXACTLY the same thing occurred less than 3 months ago (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article1769420.ece)?

Nick, Basildon, Essex

FACTS:

The Russians, through Government intervention or not, murdered a protectorate of the British state.

Lugovoy can be extridited (from a third country, for example), but the Russians will not place him in such a position because who knows where the paper trail might end?

Britain increasingly needs Russia's gas, yet Russian companies cannot operate (financially) without flotation on the London Stock Exchange. Within Europe Britain and Russia have a unique symbiotic relationship.

As a result there is a natural break for anything getting out of hand.
Sending bombers to Scotland achieves only one thing:
It makes the British ready for an almighty fight.

James, Edinburgh, UK

Britain should stop harbouring international fugitives and gangsters like Boris Berezovsky if we want to live in peace.

The globalization crowd in London are leading us all off a cliff with their dangerous geopolitical moves...

RAL, London,

A true converstaion with a Russian

'Why won't Britain hand over Berezovsky?"
"Well the British position is that he won't get a fair trial"
"A fair trial, what does that mean?"

I swear this is a true and accurate record of a conversation held yesterday.

Robin , Paris,

When the the Russians have rebuilt their military they will invade this country and kill all who oppose them...2023...

Hugh, London, Blighty

Irrespective of who killed Litvinenko and the Kremlin's behaviour around this case, the diplomatic stunts by Brown's new loud-and-proud government are just plain stupid. All it shows that this helpless bunch of too-long-in-waiting politicians just so desperately wants to survive the next elections that the parts of their brains responsible for strategic thinking have completely switched off.

Mike, London, UK

British government is just a US puppet, can't go far without looking back at the master... too sad.

Kazakh, Astana, Kazakhstan

It has nothing to do with the killing of a KGB agent, nor does it have anything to do with radiation poison concerns.

Russia feels that zionist political elements are empowered through the British banking elite committed treason against their country. This is just an extension of the Yuko's share transfers (involving British Rothschild’s), and the hide out of political-financial operatives of the zionist cause that are claiming immunity in Israel. Putin views the global zionist reach as a threat to Russia's future as a sovereign nation. Britain in turn is ignorant of the Russian concern for zionist manipulation that is unconstrained by the rule of law. The Russian solution is to ignore the rule of law and make a point to those they consider part of the conspiracy.

One would hope Britain would wake up and chew their arm off from a bad bed partner and take the moral high ground in support of the rule of law for all and not selective for political purposes. Most likely Russia will...

Chad Bester, Prince George , British Columbia

Quite right Matthew.... if it was an old school, highly personalised 9mm to the back of the head then i'm quite sure we wouldn't have taken this much offense....

Richard, Cambridge, UK

you were TOLD that its been contaminated - as time goes no evidence was produced so far!

Andrei, Moscow, Russia

Congratulations Britain and America. You've turned Russia into our enemy once again....and justified the existence of ongoing bloated defense budgets. We truly live in the best of all possible worlds.

CaptainCanada, Victoria, Canada

Oh, I've MISSED the cold war.

Welcome back, Russian bear! All our other enemies are so tedious. At least the Russians have class.

Chris, Kent, UK

Matt, if it wasn't for the UK and US you'd be speaking Russian. As for Andrei Lugovoy, if he has anything to say in his defence, say it from the dock of the Law Courts not from behind Putin. Also agree with Matthew, a trail of radioactivity was left around London. Highly irresponsible!

Dave, Westgate on Sea, UK

Some russians have argued that there are two good reasons for not extraditing the suspected killer from Russia to England: 1. The russian constitution does not allow russian citizens to be extradited to other countries.
2. There are some strongly suspected chechen murderers in England that England does not extradite to Russia although Russia have requested it many times. Instead, they argue, England is most welcome to supply evidence to Russian courts and then the case will be legally investigated in Russia under russian law. Now, given that Russia is a sovereign state - which it indeed is - I can not understand the british (legal) position ? Why do You extradite russian diplomats because Russia handles the legal case of Mr Lugovoy (as a suspect in a murdercase) in accordance with its constitution ? I don´t understand the british (legal) position in this case ? Maybe somebody would like to explain it to me ?

Staffan Lundberg, Stockholm, Sweden

All of Europe better stop the European Union or your freedoms will be gone for good. Coming from a country where freedom is on its last leg as well..

Mark, NY, US

We are being honest, we want to interview someone that might have committed murder on our soil, they should send him over.

Steve, Sunderland,

Great Britain!
You should treat Russia as pirate state.
Be as strict as you can.
Remember that "all agreements signed with Russia are not worth the paper on which they are written".
I am Russian citizen and I know what I say.
This is the only way to help us, to rescue Russia (and Europe, and UK too) from the power of KGB.

Best regards,
Alex,
Saint Petersburg

Alex, Saint Petersburg, Russia

The policy is an embarassment. It appears that UK is acting as a junk yard dog, out of logic and out of control. It appears that this is more for domestic consumption. It is an embarassment on so many levels. First, Russia along with a great many other countries do not extradite its citizens. Countries do not change their consititutions on demand. Second, it is embarrasing for Scotland Yard, as the Polonium isotope is very unlikely tool of choice for getting rid of a spy. It looks more like smuggling gone bad, as the smuggler did not understand the nature of Polonium. The presence of Mr. Zakayev at the dying man's death bed casts a question mark on other issues with this case. And finally, no information and cooperation was given to Russian law enforcement.

This is a spy case involving smuggling of radioactive material and Mr. Zakayev. Was the Chechen leader the intended customer? Making a lots of noise at the time one is better of being silent is not wise.

Bianca , Washington, DC , US

This whole episode is being blown out of all proportion in a cynical attempt to re-enforce the failing UK/US relationship amongst the UK population as a whole. For example, how many people do YOU know who thinks Americans are war-mongering idiots?

Quick, lets wheel out the "old enemy" and see if that fixes things. Whats next - a rise of right wing extremism / facism on the continent? Sound farmiliar?

Jon, Newcastle, UK

Maybe it is about time that Germany . France and the EU finally backed the UK in its stance - maybe Russian oil is influencing their motives (much like Iraqi oil has influenced the foreign policies of others!)

Paul Singh, London, UK

The amount of radiation used was minute, let's keep some perspective. The Russians are never going to send Lugovoy to London, and the government know this, but they've got to be seen to do something. So they are probably just going to play silly ego games whilst waiting to see what happens when Putin is supposed to step down.

Chris, Birmingham, UK

Hilarious but hardly surprising. The Russians have been given a free reign to create havoc in their own backyard for the past seven years under Putin, and been regularly kowtowed to by the divided EU, so it is only natural that they simply don't know how to deal with this sort of firm response. Bomb the UK in retaliation, would they? Of course not. So why this charade? It is as sure a sign as any that they are clutching at straws and an indictation of just how reliant the Putin regime is on intimidation and diplomatic gangsterism. This has been a long time coming but it is nonetheless refreshing to see someone finally stand up to the KGB cartel running today's Russia. Take note Europe!

Peter Dickinson, Kiev, Ukraine

“Why does one former KGB officer killing another deserve this attention?”

Because whoever did it, contaminated London with radiation!

Matthew MacDonald, Andover, UK

The threads of war sew missfortune.
Has anyone considered where this ends?

Thamas C Inski, Gualan, zacapa, Guatemala

The russians were probably just carrying two nuclear bombs to blow up Gordon Browns territory, as a welcome change from rhetoric!!!!
Look at how the british government handles international affairs, then you can be asssured that something dreadful is going to happen in the near future.
Honesty is infact the best policy something which our increasingly heathen based government has left behind.

matt, haarlem, holland