Mos News
Thursday, November 30, 2006

As many as 60 Russian spies are operating in Britain, virtually unchallenged by a domestic intelligence service preoccupied by the threat from Islamic extremism, a lawmaker told a debate on relations between Moscow and London, the Associated Press news agency reports.

Chris Bryant, a legislator with Tony Blair’s governing Labour party who convened and led the session, said Russian authorities had shown a “casual disregard” for the deaths of journalists critical of the Kremlin.

Outside analysts said Bryant’s figure seemed high, though British intelligence officials have expressed concern about espionage.

Lawmakers held the debate at the House of Commons ancillary chamber Westminster Hall following the poisoning death Thursday of ex-Soviet security agent