Diplomatic War?

In Russia, newspapers strongly condemned the British decision to expel four Russian diplomats after Moscow refused to extradite the main suspect in the murder of a former Russian agent, Alexander Litvinenko, last year. British prosecutors had requested that Andrei Lugovoi, a former KGB officer, be extradited to face trial in Britain for Litvinenko's murder, which Russia rejected.

"The new British prime minister has declared war on Russia -- a diplomatic one," the pro-Kremlin daily Izvestia wrote, adding that Russian courts were still waiting for British authorities to extradite oligarch Boris Berezovsky and Chechen rebel leader Ahmed Zakayev. "In Russia there are ongoing criminal investigations against them but the British consider them 'politically persecuted Kremlin opponents.'...It won't be long before an 'appropriate response' from Moscow [comes]. But what does Britain need a 'second front' for when it hasn't finished dealing with the terrorists who have declared a jihad against it?"

Kommersant daily agreed. "Great Britain and Russia have begun a diplomatic war," warning that "Moscow's reaction, judging from yesterday's emotional commentary from Russian officials, will be even more violent."

British newspapers sided with Prime Minister Gordon Brown's government.

"What choice have we?" asked the Daily Mail. "By refusing to extradite Andrei Lugovoi to face trial, [Russian] President Vladimir Putin has committed an outrage that demands punishment ... As it is, the new prime minister has come up with sanctions that will present Putin with real difficulties in his dealings with the West. Mr. Brown has faced his serious test as an international statesman -- and passed it with ease."

The Times also applauded the government's decision, noting that "the key issue was what steps could be taken that were both measured and appropriate. Those announced yesterday were right. Britain will suffer, and cynics may argue that today's measures are futile and counter-productive. But they send a signal to all those who would silence their critics abroad: Britain will protect those on its soil and cannot overlook murder for the sake of diplomatic convenience."

Similarly, The Guardian said it was "reasonable" to expect Russia to amend its constitution to allow for the extradition of its citizens, which is currently prohibited. "If Russia is seeking to integrate itself into the world business community, if it seeks for its citizens greater freedom of movement and fewer visa restrictions, if it seeks to cooperate in the fight against international terrorism, it has also got to live by the rules that most other European states subject themselves to," the paper's editorial read. "Confrontation is in no one's interest. But nor is letting freelance murders take place on the streets of London."

But a few British papers also cautioned that the expulsions may lead to serious consequences. "The government should not be surprised if sanctions are extended to British companies in Russia," wrote the Daily Telegraph.

The Sun chimed in, adding that Britain would have to secure public declarations of support from its allies in what it described as "the biggest test for European nerve since the Cold War...We have learned in two [world wars] not to appease bullies ... We need a clear signal from our allies that Britain will not face this threat alone."