Tit-for-tat expulsions groundless and unfriendly, say Russians

Russia has stepped up its spying row with Britain, declaring the expulsion of a diplomat from its London embassy groundless and unfriendly.

Foreign Secretary William Hague, pictured, announced on Tuesday that he had requested the diplomat's removal "in response to clear evidence of activities by the Russian intelligence services against UK interests".

The Kremlin responded with the tit-for-tat expulsion of a member of staff from the UK Embassy in Moscow.

Yesterday, the Russian foreign ministry issued a statement declaring itself the injured party.

The statement described Britain as the "initiator" of the row and voiced regret that it had come at a time when "encouraging trends" had been developing in Anglo-Russian relations.

The expulsions are the first since 2007, following the murder in London of Kremlin critic Alexander Litvinenko.