In a reciprocal response to London's expulsion of four Russian diplomats three days ago, Moscow sent home four British diplomats Thursday, and announced a halt to anti-terrorism cooperation with the U.K.
Zhirinovsky, a deputy speaker of parliament's lower house, who leads the Liberal Democratic Party, told journalists: "each year in Great Britain terrorist attacks are committed or prevented, and by ending cooperation, officials in London are putting ordinary British citizens in danger."
London's announcement came after Moscow gave its official refusal to extradite Andrei Lugovoi, who Scotland Yard suspects of murdering former Russian security officer Alexander Litvinenko in London last November. Russia bases its decision on the Constitution, which forbids the extradition of Russian nationals.
Zhirinovsky said: "We have always striven for cooperation with Britain, and in response they've shown us their fist, and then expect us to cooperate with them."
"England should return our diplomats or invite new ones, and consider the issue closed. Now everything depends on the British side - it wasn't Russia that picked this quarrel," he said.
However, the nationalist politician stressed that he had no bone to pick with the British people, and said he expected the conflict to be over, and relations to return to normal, within two or three weeks.
