'BRITISH LIES' ATTACK BY SUSPECT

Andrei Lugovoy told a Moscow news conference he had nothing to do with the murder and was simply the victim of British "lies".

The former KGB officer criticised evidence presented to the Russian authorities as part of an extradition request.

Repeating earlier claims, Mr Lugovoy questioned what motivation he is thought to have had for killing the Russian dissident. He said: "We would like to tell you the truth about how 'British justice' is conducting a 'fair' investigation of this case."

His comments came 12 months after Mr Litvinenko was fatally poisoned with polonium after the two men met for tea at the Millennium Hotel in Mayfair.

Traces of the rare radioactive isotope were found at the hotel and at a series of locations visited by Mr Lugovoy and Mr Litvinenko.

Friends of Mr Litvinenko said Mr Lugovoy wants to keep the story in the public eye as a way of protecting himself.

Alex Goldfarb said: "He is interested in keeping this story alive because the moment the public forget about it, he is as good as dead - he knows too much." He added: "He has the protection of Vladimir Putin, but sooner or later Putin will be gone and he will be vulnerable."

Mr Litvineko died in hospital on November 23 last year from multiple organ failure. On his deathbed he accused Mr Putin of involvement in his death.

In May, the Crown Prosecution service announced it intended to charge Mr Lugovoy with murder and made a formal request for his extradition to face trial. But the Kremlin refused to hand him over, sparking the most serious row between the two countries since the Cold War.