Moscow vows swift response to UK expulsions

Moscow has vowed there will be a swift response to the expulsion of 23 of its diplomats by Britain, reports BBC.

President Vladimir Putin would make a final decision and "won't take long" to respond, his spokesman said.

The UK took its action after Moscow refused to explain how a Russian-made nerve agent was used on a former spy and his daughter in the UK.

Russia denies it was involved. Its foreign ministry called the allegations by Prime Minister Theresa May "insane".

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has been speaking on the issue at an event in Moscow, although Russian media reports of what he has said have been conflicting.

The RIA Novosti agency quoted him as saying Russia would "definitely" expel UK diplomats "soon".

But he was quoted by others as saying that Russia would inform British authorities first before any media announcement. "This is, in my view, being polite; this is how gentlemen behave," he said.