Britain and Russia in spy standoff

LONDON, July 16 (UPI) -- Britain is on the verge of expelling Russian diplomats over Moscow's refusal to extradite the man accused of poisoning former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko.

If London sends 66 Russian diplomats and consular officials packing, it is expected that Moscow will follow suit and eject all British Embassy officials from Russia, The Telegraph reported Monday.

It has been more than a dozen years since the two countries expelled each other's diplomats in a dispute over spying allegations.

The latest incident centers on Russia's refusal to hand over former KGB agent Andrei Lugovoi who Scotland Yard believes was responsible for Litvinenko's death by poisoning last November.

Officials said relations between London and Moscow are at their lowest since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

They worry that Russian President Vladimir Putin may put pressure on British commercial interests in his country if Russian diplomats are expelled from Britain.