Russia hopes Olympics will improve British ties

LONDON (AP) — The London Olympics can help Russia improve diplomatic relations with Britain following several disputes, a Russian Olympic Committee leader said Thursday.

Relations between the two countries soured after the 2006 death of dissident ex-Russian security agent Alexander Litvinenko in London, with Russia refusing repeated British requests for the extradition of the chief suspect.

Litvinenko made a deathbed statement accusing Russian leader Vladimir Putin of authorizing his killing.

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